Amateur-built Q-200 accident near Redlands, California, August 21, 1987
On August 21, 1987 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Q-200, registered N2GQ, was destroyed in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- August 21, 1987 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q-200
- Registration
- N2GQ · registry record · serial 2249
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DEMO FLT THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED. THE PLT MADE A RADIO CALL AS HE TURNED TO THE BASE LEG. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF ANY EMERGENCY CONDITION. THE ACFT IMPACTED ROUGH TERRAIN ABOUT 400 YDS SHORT OF THE RWY. THE PLT/OWNER HAD BEEN RECHECKED BY FAA ON 10/23/86 BECAUSE HE WAS OBSERVED HAVING DIFFICULTY LNDG AND TAKING OFF IN THE QUICKIE TRI Q-200. THE PAX WAS A STU PLT TAKING A FAM RIDE IN THE ACFT. THE ACFT IS CONTROLLED BY A SINGLE CONTROL STICK BETWEEN THE TWO PLTS. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHO WAS FLYING THE ACFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACC. THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 200 LBS OVERWEIGHT WHEN IT CRASHED.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,320 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L12 Redlands CA at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.