Amateur-built Glasair II-S FT accident near Roseville, California, February 12, 2006
On February 12, 2006 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Glasair II-S FT, registered N540FT, was destroyed in an accident near Roseville, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while performing low level aerobatics that led to a stall/spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2006 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Roseville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Glasair II-S FT
- Registration
- N540FT · no longer on the register · serial 2107
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was performing low level aerobatics over a residential area when it stalled and crashed into a single family residence. The accident site was located 2 blocks from the passenger's residence. A family member of the passenger stated that they heard the airplane pass overhead, but when they got outside the airplane had disappeared. They heard it approaching again but it crashed before it arrived over the house. Two pilots who were located at the departure airport spoke with the aircraft occupants shortly before the aircraft departed on the accident flight. The witnesses said the passenger told them that he and the other pilot were "going to show you guys what flying is about." Several of the witnesses were on a nearby golf course and other witnesses were in the residential area surrounding the accident site. All of the witnesses said the airplane was performing aerobatics at altitudes they described as between 200 and 800 feet above the ground. Several of the witnesses described specific maneuvers. They reported that on the first pass the airplane was traveling at high speed and it entered a series of "barrel rolls" before pulling up into a climb and banking steeply to reverse course. On the last pass, the airplane completed the roll series, then it pulled up and began climbing and banking. The witnesses said the airplane then stalled and entered a "nose dive" while it was "spinning or spiraling" until it crashed into the house. Examination of the wreckage found no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure.
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: 287 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LHM Lincoln CA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: LHM
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from MYV
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.
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.