Amateur-built MARQUART CHARGER MA5 accident near Upper Lake, California, June 15, 1985
On June 15, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built MARQUART CHARGER MA5, registered N80GL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Upper Lake, California (Graveley Valley 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
- June 15, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Upper Lake, California · Graveley Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MARQUART CHARGER MA5 MARQUART C
- Registration
- N80GL · registry record · serial OGL-0125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ELECTED TO TAKE OFF IN HIS TAILDRAGGER ON RWY 19 WHICH IS 4050 FT LONG & 200 FT WIDE DURING A PERIOD WHEN THE WIND WAS ESTIMATED AT 270 DEG, 20 KTS, WITH GUSTS TO 25 KTS. THE PLT STATED THAT AT ROTATION FULL RT RUDDER WAS APPLIED, BUT HIS HOMEBUILT, BIPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT LT. THE ACFT DRIFTED OFF THE RWY, COLLIDED WITH BRUSH & 'CARTWHEELED TO A STOP WITH A BROKEN LEFT LOWER WING.'
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: 124 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 57 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 105 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1984; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,789 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1Q5 Upper Lake CA at 11:29 pm
- Destination: OQ9 Sonoma CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,050 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.