Amateur-built STARDUSTER II accident near Hemet, California, August 31, 1987
On August 31, 1987 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built STARDUSTER II, registered N1189B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hemet, California (Ernst airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 31, 1987 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hemet, California · Ernst
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STARDUSTER II STARDUSTER
- Registration
- N1189B · no longer on the register · serial 89
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO 'CUT OUT.' HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RESERVE TANK & ACTIVATED THE STANDBY FUEL PUMP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED AS THE PLT WAS MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A DIRT FIELD. THE ENG AND FUEL SYS WERE EXAMINED, BUT NO EVIDENCE OF A PREEXISTING FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 825 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,368 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1986; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from RIV, 26 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.