Clark SUPER Q2 accident near San Diego, California, July 4, 1983
On July 4, 1983 at about 2:14 am local time, a Clark SUPER Q2, registered N401JC, was destroyed in an accident near San Diego, California (Brown Field). It was a business 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
- July 4, 1983 · about 2:14 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Brown Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Clark SUPER Q2
- Registration
- N401JC · registry record
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOEM BUILT ACFT WAS CONSTRUCTED USING THE BASIC DESIGN OF THE Q2, A 2 PALCE PLANE WITH A CANARD. HOWEVER, IT WAS BUILT WITH SIGNIGICANT DESIGN CHANGES. THESE INCLUDED A 2ND ELEVATOR WHICH CREATED AT-TAIL. THE 2ND ELEVATOR WAS OPERATED BY A HANDLE WHICH WAS MOUNTED ON THE CONSOLE WALL. ALSO, THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A 104 HP LIQUID COOLED ENG INSTEAD OF AN AIR COOLED 64 HP ENG; THE GROSS WT WAS INCREASED FROM 1000 TO 1350 LBS; & THE FUEL CAPACITY WAS INCREASED FROM 20 TO 36 GAL & AN ADDITIONAL AFT TANK WAS INSTALLED. AFTER HIS SPEED TAXI CHECKS, THE OWNER/BUILDER/PLT TOOK OFF ON HIS 1ST FLT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE CFT CLIMBED TO AN ALT OF APRX 100 TO 200 FT AGL, THEN ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE HANDLE FOR THE 2ND ELEVATOR WAS FOUND IN A FULL TRAVEL (ACFT NOSE DOWN) POSITION. THE 2ND ELEVATOR WAS FOUND TO BE 'REVERSIBLE' & AIRLOADS AT TAKEOFF SPEEDS COULD HAVE DRIVEN IT TO A FULL TRAVEL (ACFT NOSE DOWN) POSITION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,367 hours in all; 11,246 as pilot in command; 2,608 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 29, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway UNK/NR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26R, 7,999 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Observation at 7:14 pm from SDM, 1 miles away
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.