Amateur-built OSPREY 2 accident near Julian, California, June 9, 1986
On June 9, 1986, a amateur-built OSPREY 2, registered N627JC, was destroyed in an accident near Julian, California. It was a personal 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
- June 9, 1986
- Place
- Julian, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built OSPREY 2
- Registration
- N627JC · no longer on the register · serial 378
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESS STATEMENTS & EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND AS A RESULT OF A STALL-SPIN TYPE ACCIDENT NEAR THE END OF THE CLOSED PORTION OF A BOX CANYON ABOUT 200 FEET BELOW THE TOP OF THE RIDGE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT/BUILDER EXTENSIVELY MODIFIED THE AIRCRAFT AS BUILT FROM THE ORIGINAL PLANS/SPECIFICATIONS. ALL OF THE MODIFICATIONS ATTEMPTED BY THE PILOT WERE, ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT DESIGNER, PROVEN TO INDUCE LONGITUDINAL STABILITY PROBLEMS DURING FLIGHT TESTING OF THE PROTOTYPE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT COMMENTED TO HIS ASSOCIATES THAT HE WOULD EXPERIENCE CONTROL PROBLEMS IN TURBULENCE, REPORTEDLY SAYING THAT 'IN TURBULENCE THE NOSE WOULD COME UP ALMOST VERTICAL.' WINDS AT 30 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS WERE REPORTED IN THE CANYON BY FOREST SERVICE PILOTS IN ADDITION TO MODERATE TURBULENCE.
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: 278 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 33 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1986; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,570 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CXL Calexico CA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: SDM San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.