Amateur-built CASSUTT SH-1 accident near San Carlos, California, October 27, 1985
On October 27, 1985 at about 6:45 pm local time, a amateur-built CASSUTT SH-1, registered N4975M, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Carlos, California (San Carlos airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- October 27, 1985 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- San Carlos, California · San Carlos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CASSUTT SH-1 CASSUTT SH
- Registration
- N4975M · no longer on the register · serial SH-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING RY 30, SAN CARLOS AIRPORT, SAN CARLOS, CA. THE PLT REPTD THAT AFTER EXPERIENCING THE LOSS OF POWER, HE PUMPED THE THROTTLE. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REGAIN SOME POWER BUT NOT ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT. THE PLT LANDED IN AN OPEN CONSTRUCTION FIELD NORTHWEST OF THE ARPT. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR DISCLOSED FLOAT NEEDLE AND THE MIXTURE CONTROL LEAVER BUSHING WERE WORN. NO FUEL CONTAMINATES WERE OBSERVED.
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: 600 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 535 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 20, 1985; 10 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:48 pm from SQL, 25 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.