Amateur-built OWL RACER accident near Oroville, California, July 15, 1984
On July 15, 1984 at about 7:15 pm local time, a amateur-built OWL RACER, registered N711BS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oroville, California (Oroville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 15, 1984 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Oroville, California · Oroville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built OWL RACER
- Registration
- N711BS · registry record · serial 29511-7-8
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIMENTAL/AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT HAD JUST TURNED INBOUND FOR AN EXHIBITION RACE RUN WHEN IT EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATIONS AS THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER. HE HEADED FOR THE RUNWAY AND FOUND THAT HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE ENGINE WITH THE THROTTLE. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE MAGNETO DUE TO THE AWKWARD LOCATION OF THE SWITCHES. THE PILOT TURNED AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY DUE TO THE CROWD OF SPECTATORS NEAR-BY. HE FORCED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE GROUND. IT HIT, BOUNCED AND CARTWHEELED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST INVERTED IN A STAND OF TREES.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 275 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days; 4,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 145 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1984; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 760 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OVE Oroville CA at 7:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,960 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from MYV, 23 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.