Amateur-built FLYBABY 1A accident near San Luis Obispo, California, March 31, 1987
On March 31, 1987 at about 11:50 pm local time, a amateur-built FLYBABY 1A, registered N792JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California. 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
- March 31, 1987 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FLYBABY 1A
- Registration
- N792JB · registry record · serial 67-48
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLT IN AN EXPERIMENTAL ACFT, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ENG SPUTTERED, HOWEVER, THE PLT CONTINUED THE FLT. AFTER TAKEOFF AT APRX 30 FT THE ENG SPUTTERED AGAIN. THE PLT MADE A SHARP 45 DEG TURN WHICH PUT HIM ON DOWNWIND, HOWEVER, THE ACFT WAS KEPT IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. AT APRX 300 FT THE ENG SPUTTERED AGAIN THEN QUIT. THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE ACFT COMPLETED ONE TURN AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A 70 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED.
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: 219 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 151 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,138 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, February 20, 1987; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,020 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A75-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.