Aeronca O-58B accident near San Andreas, California, July 6, 2001
On July 6, 2001 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Aeronca O-58B, registered N50912, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Andreas, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2001 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- San Andreas, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca O-58B
- Registration
- N50912 · no longer on the register · serial O58B-6852
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness observed the aircraft descend in controlled, gliding flight and "pancake" onto a rock outcropping. He didn't think the crash site was where a pilot would intentionally land. There were more suitable areas in the nearby vicinity. Earlier in the day the airplane was fueled to capacity (2.5-hours endurance). The pilot had flown to an airport about 50 minutes distant and was returning at the time of the accident. The accident site is about 5 miles from the origin airport. Inspection of the aircraft failed to reveal any mechanical anomaly. An autopsy of the pilot revealed, among the findings: 1) Acute thrombus, diagonal branch of left anterior descending coronary artery; 2) Severe coronary artery atherosclerosis; and 3) Cardiomegaly with left ventricular hypertrophy.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,535 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 4, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,921 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 2001; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA
- Destination: CPU San Andreas CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KSCK, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.