Amateur-built LONG EZE accident near Willows, California, May 3, 1990
On May 3, 1990 at about 1:00 am local time, a amateur-built LONG EZE, registered N2069G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willows, California (Willows Glenn CO. 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
THE PILOTS MISJUDGEMENT OF THE CORRECT LANDING SPOT AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND INTO THE GROUND WITHOUT TAKING PROPER AND TIMELY CORRECTIVE ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1990 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Willows, California · Willows Glenn CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG EZE
- Registration
- N2069G · no longer on the register · serial 1381
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING A VISUAL APPROACH TO LAND. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED 20 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE ENGINE OR THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE VARIABLE AT 10 KNOTS.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 405 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1990; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,485 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WLW Willows CA at 1:00 am
- Destination: CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,506 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 3°F (-16°C), dew point 3°F (-16°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.