Amateur-built SA/750 accident near Redlands, California, June 25, 1990
On June 25, 1990 at about 7:54 pm local time, a amateur-built SA/750, registered N10WS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands 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 PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SPEED ABOVE A STALL AFTER EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S MISCALCULATION OF THE FUEL SUPPLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1990 · about 7:54 pm local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA/750
- Registration
- N10WS · no longer on the register · serial 0015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED WITH FUEL TANKS HALF FULL FOR SOME ACROBATIC WORK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIRBORNE FOR OVER AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AFTER A TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND A STEEP CLIMBOUT. ACCORDING TO THE SECOND PILOT ON BOARD THE PILOT STALLED THE AIRCRAFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES ON THE GROUND HEARD THE SPUTTER FROM THE ENGINE AND OBSERVED A TIGHT TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PRESENCE OF FUEL IN THE TANKS OR FUEL LINES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 1990; 38 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.