Amateur-built FALCON XP accident near Antioch, California, July 2, 1988
On July 2, 1988 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built FALCON XP, registered N607AA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Antioch, California (Antioch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- July 2, 1988 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Antioch, California · Antioch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FALCON XP
- Registration
- N607AA · registry record · serial 600153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENTERING DOWNWIND FOR LANDING, THE RUDDER DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO YAW TO THE LEFT AT A 30 DEGREE BANKING SPIRAL TURN. THE PILOT DEPLOYED THE EMERGENCY PARACHUTE AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE BOLT USED TO ATTACH THE RUDDER TO THE WING WAS MISSING.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,331 hours in all; 331 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 1,942 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 344 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 20 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503DCF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.