Amateur-built Combo FC 912 accident near San Luis Obispo, California, July 18, 2007
On July 18, 2007 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Combo FC 912, registered N599CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis Obispo County-Mc Ches airport). 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 student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2007 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis Obispo County-Mc Ches · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Combo FC 912
- Registration
- N599CA · registry record · serial 75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with the runway while practicing a touch-and-go landing. The flight instructor stated that just as the airplane was rounding out in the flare the airplane made a quick pitch down, which the instructor thought was due to a sudden power reduction by the student. The airplane nose gear impacted the runway and collapsed. The instructor stated that he felt the accident could have been avoided by maintaining steady partial power, maintaining a slight nose-up pitch attitude, and landing farther down the runway. The instructor and student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft.
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: single-engine land; instructor: sport pilot; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,850 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: sport pilot, student
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912LL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBP San Luis Obispo CA at 10:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,300 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:30 pm from SBP
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.