Univair GLOBE GC-1B accident near Chino, California, December 27, 1988
On December 27, 1988 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Univair GLOBE GC-1B, registered N3388K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
**This report was modified on 2/24/2016. Please refer to the public docket for this accident for additional information.** The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during an emergency landing following an inflight loss of engine power, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1988 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Univair GLOBE GC-1B GLOBE GC-1
- Registration
- N3388K · registry record · serial 1381
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB, AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL, THE PLT REPORTED, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENG POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PLT MANEUVERED THE ACFT TOWARD A CLEARING, LOST CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH LEVEL TERRAIN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE ADJACENT TO A CITY STREET. EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME & ENGINE REVEALED ADEQUATE SOURCES OF WING TANK FUEL, INDUCTION AIR AND IGNITION. THE ENGINE WAS PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLED & NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOTED. A CONTROLLER REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT CLIMBED TO BETWEEN 250 AND 300 FEET AGL AND HE OBSERVED THE ACFT IN A HIGH NOSE UP PITCH ATTITUDE BEFORE THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE ACFT DESCENDED OUT OF VIEW.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 7:19 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,204 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:20 pm from CNO, 1 miles away
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.