Amateur-built PRESCOTT PUSHER accident near San Diego, California, May 17, 1990
On May 17, 1990 at about 4:46 pm local time, a amateur-built PRESCOTT PUSHER, registered N58PP, was destroyed in an accident near San Diego, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF HE INTERNAL COMPONENTS TO THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1990 · about 4:46 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PRESCOTT PUSHER PRESCOTT P
- Registration
- N58PP · registry record · serial 42
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A HILL DURING THE ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE SPARK PLUG TO THE NO. 3 CYLINDER HAD BURNED/MELTED WITH THE OTHERS INDICATING EXCESSIVE HEAT DAMAGE. THE NO. 3 PISTON WAS FOUND SEIZED ON THE CONNECTING ROD. THE FLOAT IN THE CARBURETOR WAS FOUND SET TO A VERY LEAN CONDITION WITH THE FLOAT CHAMBER VENT LINE PLUGGED/CAPPED OFF. THE TOTAL ENGINE TIME WAS 1.9 HOURS WITH A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 27,000 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 21,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 16, 1990; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,477 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ford V-6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM San Diego CA at 4:45 pm
- Destination: CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.