Amateur-built SMYTH accident near Georgetown, California, March 29, 1990
On March 29, 1990 at about 10:05 pm local time, a amateur-built SMYTH, registered N23D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, California (Georgetown 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
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT HIS LANDING AND EXECUTE A GO-AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1990 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, California · Georgetown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SMYTH
- Registration
- N23D · registry record · serial 212220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT LANDED LONG AND FAST ON A 2,950 FEET RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT PROCEEDED OVER THE BANK AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT STATED HE SHOULD HAVE ABORTED THE LANDING AND EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE CRASH.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 944 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 899 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 245 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1990; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-290-GHD-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMF Sacramento CA at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,985 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.