Amateur-built FALCON XP accident near Glamis, California, March 31, 1990
On March 31, 1990 at about 6:05 pm local time, a amateur-built FALCON XP, registered N542AA, was destroyed in an accident near Glamis, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP AFTER EXPERIENCING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1990 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Glamis, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FALCON XP
- Registration
- N542AA · no longer on the register · serial 600163
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 86 YEAR OLD PILOT OF A HOMEBUILT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL ENGINE FAILURE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT DID NOT USE THE SHOULDER HARNESS AND WAS FATALLY INJURED. WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGINE SPUTTERING AND SAW THE WINGS WOBBLE BACK AND FOURTH PRIOR TO THE CRASH. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE FUEL PUMP, FUEL LINES, FUEL TANK AND CARBURETOR WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE.
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: 500 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 460 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1990; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.