Amateur-built TWIN-STAR accident near Lake Elsinore, California, October 30, 1988
On October 30, 1988 at about 7:10 pm local time, a amateur-built TWIN-STAR, registered N50913, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Elsinore, California (Skylark 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 30, 1988 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Elsinore, California · Skylark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TWIN-STAR
- Registration
- N50913 · no longer on the register · serial 3609470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REDUCED THE ENGINE POWER TO TALK TO THE PASSENGER. WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED POWER, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIRPLANE WAS GLIDED TO A NEARBY AIRPORT; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT. THE PILOT VERBALLY REPORTED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICE DURING ENGINE IDLE OPERATIONS.
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: 58 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 80 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CL47 Lake Elsinore CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
Other NTSB records under N50913 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.