Globe SWIFT GC-1B accident near Upland, California, February 16, 1986
On February 16, 1986 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Globe SWIFT GC-1B, registered N80561, was substantially damaged in an accident near Upland, California (Cable 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
- February 16, 1986 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe SWIFT GC-1B SWIFT GC-1
- Registration
- N80561 · no longer on the register · serial 64
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON FEBRUARY 16, 1986 AT 1515 PST, A SWIFT GC-1B, N80561, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER A FORCED LANDING. AFTER T/O AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET AGL THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. TRAFFIC ON THE RWY PREVENTED AN ON APT LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED OFF THE APT IN ROUGH TERRAIN. INSPECTION REVEALED FOD IN THE VAPOR RETURN LINE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL CELL.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,253 hours in all; 588 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,822 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1986; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCD Upland CA at 11:14 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.