Amateur-built Q2 accident near Hollister, California, July 27, 1984
On July 27, 1984 at about 3:21 pm local time, a amateur-built Q2, registered N1180A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hollister, California. 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
- July 27, 1984 · about 3:21 pm local time
- Place
- Hollister, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N1180A · no longer on the register · serial 2112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT PASSED OVER THE ARPT TWICE AFTER DEPARTURE WITH THE ENGINE POPPING AND BACKFIRING. A WITNESS WHO HEARD THIS RADIOED THE PLT TO WARN HIM. THE PLT REPLIED THAT HE WAS TRYING TO CORRECT IT WITH THE MIXTURE CONTROL. THE PLT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT HIS RADIO HAD BACKGROUND NOISE AND A SQUEAL. THE PLT REPLIED THAT IT MUST BE THE OPERATOR. THEACFT THEN FLEW OUT OF SIGHT. ANOTHER WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE BACKFIRING AND LOOKED IN TIME TO SEE PARTS FALLING OFF OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT CRASHED INVERTED. THE MAIN WINGS WERE FOUND 165 AND 300 FT FROM THE FUSELAGE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT HAD INSTALLED A MODIFIED WING FUEL TANK IN THE FOAM FILLED WING AND THE USE OF AUTO GAS HAD DISSOLVED THE FOAM FILLING BY A LEAK, SPILLAGE, OR OVERFLOW. THE FOAM WAS TESTED WITH AVGAS AND NO DAMAGE RESULTED.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A57 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.