Great Lakes 2T-1A accident near San Diego, California, November 13, 2004
On November 13, 2004 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A, registered N502GL, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2004 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T-1A · all 2T-1As on the register
- Registration
- N502GL · registry record · serial 0502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the landing rollout the airplane ground looped. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that he was demonstrating a forward slip to lose altitude for landing. As the airplane was rolling out, he attempted to slow down by adding light pressure on both heel brakes. The airplane began a right turn, and he counteracted with additional pressure on the left brake, but there was no response. The airplane swerved off the runway and ground looped. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane's brake system. When he depressed the brakes he found them a little spongy but completely operational.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,522 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 4,779 as pilot in command; 2,542 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 811 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 535 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,608.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2004; 40.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L08 Borrego Springs CA at 9:35 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 3,401 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from MYF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N502GL 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.