Waco YKS-7 accident near San Diego, California, October 4, 1986
On October 4, 1986 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Waco YKS-7, registered N50RA, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1986 · about 5:00 pm local time · cases in 1986
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco YKS-7 · all YKS-7s on the register
- Registration
- N50RA · registry record · serial 4693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED MONTGOMERY AIRPORT AT ABT 0954 HOURS. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRPORT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO CUT-IN AND OUT. THE PLT CONTACTED GILLESPIE AIRPORT TOWER AND REQUESTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON A GOLF COURSE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SANDTRAP. THE POST ACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DSCLSD THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED LESS THAT 9 OUNCES OF FUEL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION; HE NOTED THAT THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED AMPLE FUEL FOR THE SHORT FLT TO BROWN FIELD, SAN DIEGO, CA. THE MASTER SWITCH WAS TURNED ON AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AND THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED ABT 1/4 FULL; THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED ABT 1/2 FULL.
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: 47 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,527 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 1986; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs L4MB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 4:54 pm
- Destination: SDM San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N50RA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Waco YKS-7 21 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Waco 657 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Jacobs L4MB 1 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Montgomery-Gibbs Executive · nearest airport
- Brown Field Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX87LA005.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.