Amateur-built 99 accident near El Cajon, California, April 4, 2003
On April 4, 2003 at about 2:22 am local time, a amateur-built 99, registered N6052T, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Cajon, California (Gillespie Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2003 · about 2:22 am local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · Gillespie Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 99
- Registration
- N6052T · registry record · serial 00028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with ground obstacles during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. Prior to flying the experimental airplane, the pilot had done some work on the airplane's Chevrolet, 4.3L, V6 engine. The pilot was performing a test flight at pattern altitude over the airfield when the engine began to "run rough and quit." During the forced landing approach to the runway, the pilot executed an approach that put him on a low final for landing. The airplane landed short of the runway, struck a fence post, and came to rest in the threshold area of the approach end of runway. The cause of engine failure was not determined.
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: 800 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 26, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2002; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Chevrolet 4.3Liter, V-6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA at 3:00 am
- Destination: SEE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,147 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from KSEE
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.
Other NTSB records under N6052T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.