Amateur-built GLASAIR accident near Chinese Camp, California, March 23, 1986
On March 23, 1986 at about 4:00 am local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR, registered N84GD, was destroyed in an accident near Chinese Camp, California (Jensen Private Airstrip airport). It was a business 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
- March 23, 1986 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Chinese Camp, California · Jensen Private Airstrip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR
- Registration
- N84GD · no longer on the register · serial 530
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GLASAIR HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A BARN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON A NIGHT TIME BUSINESS TRIP. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM THE EXTREME LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHICH HAD A HIGH GROWTH OF VEGETATION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BE ABOUT 40 TO 50 FT ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN IT ROLLED TO THE LEFT, WENT BEHIND A TREE AND COLLIDED WITH THE BARN. THE ENSUING GROUND FIRE DESTROYED THE EVIDENCE WHICH WAS COMPOSED PRIMARILY OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 175 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: BUR Burbank CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from MOD, 30 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.