Amateur-built II accident near Long Beach, California, June 6, 1986
On June 6, 1986 at about 11:35 pm local time, a amateur-built II, registered N41SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1986 · about 11:35 pm local time · cases in 1986
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built II
- Registration
- N41SH · registry record · serial 0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING TOUCH & GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 25R AT LONG BEACH INTERNATIONAL ARPT, LONG BEACH, CA, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE PIC WAS FLYING FROM THE REAR SEAT AND REPTD THE ACFT ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO RETURN TO LGB AND LAND ON RUNWAY 12 AND HE ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN AREA ABOUT 1/4 MILE NORTHWEST OF THE ARPT. THE FRONT SEAT PLT/PASSENGER TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS BECAUSE HE COULD SEE THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA BETTER THAN THE PIC. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE ACFT NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK AFTER COLLIDENG WITH SOME RAILROAD TRACKS WHICH WERE PERPENDICULAR TO THE ACFT GND ROLL. BOTH CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PLTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. POST-IMPACT EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE ACFT WAS OUT OF FUEL. THE EXAM FURTHER DISCLOSED THAT WHEN TWO GALLONS OF FUEL WERE ADDED IN THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL SIGHT GAUGE WAS NOT DISCERNABLE FROM THE FRONT SEAT COCKPIT. THE SIGHT GAUGE IS OPAQUE. FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED/UNAVAILABLE.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25R, 6,192 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from LGB, 25 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N41SH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N41SH on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 8,560 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Long Beach (Daugherty Field) · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N41SH 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX86LA253.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.