Amateur-built SNJ-4 accident near El Cajon, California, November 28, 1986
On November 28, 1986 at about 11:50 pm local time, a amateur-built SNJ-4, registered N269WB, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Cajon, California (Gillispie airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1986 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · Gillispie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SNJ-4
- Registration
- N269WB · registry record · serial 26992
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4 GROUND LOOPED AFTER A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF ROLL ON RUNWAY 27R. THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT TWICE AND THEN LIFTED OFF THE GROUND WITH A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK AND LOW AIRSPEED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN 'MUSHED ALONG' AT APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 FEET AGL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONTINUIING TO DRIFT LEFT TOWARDS THE TERMINAL BUILDING WHEN IT REACHED RUNWAY 27L. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO ROLL LEFT AND DRAGGED ITS LEFT WING TIP. THE AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE AND CAME TO REST ON ITS BELLY. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED GOOD TILL THE TIME THE PROPELLOR STRUCK THE GROUND. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE 90 DEGREES TO THE RUNWAY AND THE WIND SOCK WAS FULLY EXTENDED.
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: 447 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 318 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,337 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1986; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W 1340AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA at 11:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 5,341 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:46 pm from SEE
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 N269WB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.