Amateur-built WAG-AERO SPORT accident near Placerville, California, January 28, 1989
On January 28, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built WAG-AERO SPORT, registered N512PV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Placerville, California (Placerville airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER APPLICATION OF BRAKES DURING THE TOUCHDOWN/FLARE PHASE OF THE LANDING CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Placerville, California · Placerville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built WAG-AERO SPORT WAG-AERO S
- Registration
- N512PV · registry record · serial 674
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT OVERTURNED ON THE RUNWAY AFTER THE DUAL STUDENT APPLIED THE BRAKES DURING THE TOUCHDOWN PHASE OF THE LANDING. THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS NOT ABLE TO OVERCOME THE SITUATION AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,937 hours in all; 620 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 27,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 17, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,474 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.