Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near Newell, California, October 17, 1987
On October 17, 1987 at about 10:50 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N38EZ, was destroyed in an accident near Newell, California (Tulelake Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- October 17, 1987 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Newell, California · Tulelake Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N38EZ · no longer on the register · serial 927
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE TAKING OFF, THE PLT NOTED THAT THE WIND SOCK WAS 'WHIPPING & WAS ABOUT 3/4 FULL.' HE SAID THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, HE MADE A FLYBY AT ABOUT 50' AGL, WITH AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 150 MPH. HE THEN ENTERED A STEEP CLIMBING RIGHT TURN. THE PLT ESTIMATED THAT AT ABOUT 400' AGL, THE ACFT 'FELL OFF AS IN A STALL.' HE INITIATED CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE HI ATTITUDE DURING RECOVERY. THE PLT BELIEVED THE ACFT ENCTRD WINDSHEAR OR A DOWNDRAFT WHEN HE LOST CONTROL. HE RPRTD THE SURFACE WIND WAS FROM 170 DEG AT 15 GUSTING 20 KTS.
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: 424 hours in all; 238 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 288 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 081 at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,577 ft by 44 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.