Amateur-built Express 90 accident near Cottonwood, California, July 30, 2000
On July 30, 2000 at about 2:47 am local time, a amateur-built Express 90, registered N540EX, was destroyed in an accident near Cottonwood, California (Lake California Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll, which resulted in the on ground collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2000 · about 2:47 am local time
- Place
- Cottonwood, California · Lake California Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Express 90 EXPRESS 90
- Registration
- N540EX · no longer on the register · serial 540EX-1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built experimental airplane impacted trees and ignited in flames after it veered off the runway during a landing at a private airport. According to the passenger, who was seated in the left rear seat, the private pilot made a "perfect landing" on runway 15. The passenger could not remember the following accident sequence and added that he opened his eyes and the airplane was on the ground among trees and a ring of grass fire surrounded the aircraft. Photographs taken at the accident site displayed tire tread marks deviating from the runway environment leading to the wreckage area. Blade tips from the propeller were found along the accident energy path imbedded in dirt and tree limbs. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported noting no anomalies that would have prevented flight operations. A nearby weather observation facility reported the wind from 170 degrees at 8 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 620 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 19, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 6, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 2:15 am
- Destination: Cottonwood CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from RBL, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.