Amateur-built Q2 accident near San Carlos, California, April 14, 1983
On April 14, 1983 at about 7:54 pm local time, a amateur-built Q2, registered N1180A, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Carlos, California (San Carlos airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 14, 1983 · about 7:54 pm local time
- Place
- San Carlos, California · San Carlos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N1180A · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TWO PARKED ACFT DURING A GO-AROUND ATTEMPT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CLEARED TO LAND AND THE APPROACH SEEMED NORMAL BUT THE 'FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN WAS TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE' THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN' SEVERAL TIMES ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AT LEAST TWICE IN THE GRAVEL OFF OF THE RWY' AS LATER RELATED BY A TOWER CONTROLLER. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT HE 'SAW THE PROPELLER SPEED UP AND HEARD THE ENGINE SOUND INCREASE'. THE ACFT BANKED TO THE LEFT AND VEERED LEFT. IT TOUCHED DOWN IN THE PARKING AREA AND COLLIDED WITH TWO PARKED ACFT. THE PILOT REPORTED HE LOST CONTROL IN A HEAVY CROSSWIND. THE LANDING WAS ON RWY 30 AND THE WIND WAS FROM 010 DEGREES AT 12 KTS.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,108 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 97 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 1982; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental R-0200A-7B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 307 Hollister CA at 7:24 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from SQL
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.
Other NTSB records under N1180A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.