Yakovlev YAK-50 and Yakovlev YAK-50 accident near El Cajon, California, October 6, 2007
On October 6, 2007 at about 8:35 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Yakovlev YAK-50 (N509RA) and Yakovlev YAK-50 (N950MS), were involved in the same accident near El Cajon, California (Gillespie Field Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate visual lookout of the pilot and his failure to maintain clearance from a taxiing airplane.
The inadequate visual lookout of the pilot of another airplane and his failure to maintain clearance from a taxiing airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2007 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · Gillespie Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Yakovlev YAK-50 · all YAK-50s on the register
- Registration
- N509RA · registry record · serial 832509
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Yakovlev YAK-50 · all YAK-50s on the register
- Registration
- N950MS · registry record · serial 791507
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Yakovlev YAK-50 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Four Yakovlev YAK-50 airplanes were conducting a formation flight. The number four airplane (N509RA) was landing on the right side of runway 27R in a staggered pattern behind the number three airplane (N950MS). During the landing roll, the number four airplane's propeller and right wing leading edge struck the tail section of the number three airplane. The number four airplane had floated and landed past his intended landing point due to gusty winds. The number three airplane had crossed onto the right side of the runway during his touchdown and landing roll due to the crosswinds. The number four airplane slowed to a taxi speed after landing and began a left turn onto the taxiway. The pilot of the number four airplane did not see the number three airplane until the propeller of his airplane impacted the tail section of the number three airplane.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Yakovlev YAK-50 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Four Yakovlev YAK-50 airplanes were conducting a formation flight. The number four airplane (N509RA) was landing on the right side of runway 27R in a staggered pattern behind the number three airplane (N950MS). During the landing roll, the number four airplane's propeller and right wing leading edge struck the tail section of the number three airplane. The number four airplane had floated and landed past his intended landing point due to gusty winds. The number three airplane had crossed onto the right side of the runway during his touchdown and landing roll due to the crosswinds. The number four airplane slowed to a taxi speed after landing and began a left turn onto the taxiway. The pilot of the number four airplane did not see the number three airplane until the propeller of his airplane impacted the tail section of the number three airplane.
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 for the Yakovlev YAK-50 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 8,600 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ivchenko Vedeneye M14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: SEE El Cajon CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27R, 5,342 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from SEE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Yakovlev YAK-50 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ivchenko VedeneyevM14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: SEE El Cajon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 5,342 ft by 100 ft
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX08LA004.