Amateur-built COUGAR accident near Banning, California, February 23, 1990
On February 23, 1990 at about 7:40 pm local time, a amateur-built COUGAR, registered N4758, was substantially damaged in an accident near Banning, California (Banning Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S IMPROPER WIND EVALUATION AND IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING AFTER LANDING. THE TAILWIND AND WIND GUSTS WERE FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1990 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Banning, California · Banning Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built COUGAR
- Registration
- N4758 · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT LANDED DOWNWIND ON RUNWAY 26 AND IT NOSED OVER. THE WINDS AT THE TIME WERE FROM 090 DEGREES AT 14 GUSTING TO 17 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE AIRPORT ADVISORIES NOR SEE THE WIND DIRECTION INDICATORS AND ELECTED TO LAND ON THE UPHILL RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY WAS 5,200 FEET LONG.
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: 976 hours in all; 271 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 877 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 271 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1989; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,462 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L67 Rialto CA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 14 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Observation at 7:51 pm from BNG
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.