Smith DSA-1 accident near Upland, California, January 7, 1988
On January 7, 1988 at about 9:18 pm local time, a Smith DSA-1, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N2Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Upland, California (Cable Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- January 7, 1988 · about 9:18 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith DSA-1, amateur-built
- Registration
- N2Q · registry record · serial MH-101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD PERFORMED A MODERATE TO SEVERE 'NOSEOVER' AT 4000 FT AGL. THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND THEN QUIT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD PERFORMED MAINTENANCE ON THE CARBURETOR JUST PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE NEAR THE AIRPORT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A PERIMETER FENCE AND A DIRT EMBANKMENT. DURING THE POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. THE CARBURETOR FLOATBOWL WAS FOUND EMPTY OF FUEL, HOWEVER, AND THE FUEL LINE TO THE CARBURETOR CONTAINED FUEL AND WAS UNRESTRICTED. THE FUEL TANK HELD APRX 5 GALS OF FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN INVERTED FLIGHT CARBURETOR/FUEL SYSTEM. A STUCK CARBURETOR FLOAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE DESCRIBED POWER LOSS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 2,050 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 242 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 30, 1987; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,785 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.