Amateur-built BARRACUDA accident near Lakeport, California, June 3, 1984
On June 3, 1984, a amateur-built BARRACUDA, registered N44HJ, was destroyed in an accident near Lakeport, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 3, 1984
- Place
- Lakeport, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BARRACUDA
- Registration
- N44HJ · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE GEAR USING NORMAL PROCEDURES. HE SUBSEQUENTLY USED THE EMERGENCY RELEASE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO FREE FALL THE GEAR INTO THE DOWN POSITION. THREE 'CLUNKS' WERE HEARD & THREE SREEN LIGHTS INDICATED THE GEAR WERE DOWN & LOCKED. HOWEVER, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON TOUCHDOWN. THE PLT, WHO BUILT THE ACFT, STATED THAT THE SMALL SPRINGS THAT HOLD THE LANDING GEAR IN A LOCKED & OVER-CENTER POSITION WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 206 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 108 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 1983; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCE Merced CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 102 Lakeport CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,450 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N44HJ 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.