Amateur-built DER JAGER D-1X accident near Clearlake Oaks, California, September 21, 1983
On September 21, 1983 at about 4:19 pm local time, a amateur-built DER JAGER D-1X, registered N3727, was destroyed in an accident near Clearlake Oaks, California (High Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1983 · about 4:19 pm local time
- Place
- Clearlake Oaks, California · High Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DER JAGER D-1X DER JAGER
- Registration
- N3727 · registry record · serial 078
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHILE PERFORMING LOW ALT AEROBATICS AT A PRIVATE RANCH STRIP. THIS SHOW HAD BECOME A REGULAR WED MORNING EVENT TO ENTERTAIN GUEST. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE ACFT HAD DONE ROLLS LOOPS AND PULL-UPS. AFTER A LOW PASS THE ACFT PULLED UP EXECUTED A HAMMERHEAD OR WING OVER, MADE A LEFT TURN AND DOVE INTO THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WAS DEVELOPING POWER PRIOR TO IMPACT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OR ANY PRE-IMPACT DISCREPANCIES OF THE ACFT OR ENGINE. THE PLTS AUTOPSY AND TOXICOLOGY REPORTS WERE NEGATIVE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,180 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.