Focke-Wulf 44J STIEGLITZ accident near Hollister, California, September 14, 1984
On September 14, 1984 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Focke-Wulf 44J STIEGLITZ, registered N638, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hollister, California (Hollister Municipal airport). 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
- September 14, 1984 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hollister, California · Hollister Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Focke-Wulf 44J STIEGLITZ 44J STIEGL
- Registration
- N638 · registry record · serial 638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO COMMERCIAL RATED PILOTS WERE FLYING TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF GAINING PROFICIENCY SO THAT ONE OF THE PLT'S COULD PASS HIS BFR. THE ONE PLT WHO WAS NOT CURRENT PERFORMED TREE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS FROM THE FRONT SEAT. THE PLTS THEN SWITCHED SEATS AND THREE MORE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WERE PERFORMED. ON THE LAST LANDING THE REAR SEAT PLT APPLIED THE BRAKES EXCESSIVELY AND THE ACFT GND LOOPED. THE ACFT IS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FLT CONTROLS BUT ONLY ONE SET OF BRAKES, LOCATED IN THE REAR SEAT 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,730 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,593 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 1984; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,925 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Siemens Halsk SH14A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,350 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.