Amateur-built Breezy RLU-1 accident near Ramona, California, August 17, 2006
On August 17, 2006 at about 2:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Breezy RLU-1, registered N577JS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ramona, California (Ramona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the takeoff climb, that resulted in a stall/spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2006 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Breezy RLU-1
- Registration
- N577JS · no longer on the register · serial 4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane was observed to make a right crosswind turn, then a right downwind turn within the traffic pattern. One witness reported that it appeared to him that the engine lost power while the airplane was in a straight and level flight at about 300 feet above ground level (agl). The airplane then nosed down and entered a spin to ground impact. The weather was clear over the airport; however, fog was present about 1 mile west of the airport. Two other witnesses reported similar flight maneuvers as the first witness, but they reported that the engine was at full power during the entire event. The airplane came to rest about 300 yards north of the runway center line on airport property. The airplane was in a nose down attitude with the leading edge of the wings on the ground. The aft empennage was oriented vertically to the flat terrain. All flight control surfaces remained attached to their respective hinges. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found during the engine examination.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,819 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 146 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L39 Ramona CA at 2:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: vv
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:03 pm from RNM
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.