Piper J-2 accident near Santa Ynez, California, October 7, 1989
On October 7, 1989 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Piper J-2, registered N6677C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Ynez, California (Santa Ynez 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY SECURE THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE HAND PROPPING THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1989 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Ynez, California · Santa Ynez · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-2 · all J-2s on the register
- Registration
- N6677C · no longer on the register · serial 1604
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PLACED HIS AIRCRAFT'S THROTTLE IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION TO CLEAR THE FLOODED ENGINE, AND THEN HE ROTATED THE PROPELLER BY HAND SEVERAL TIMES. THE PILOT THEN TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND AGAIN ROTATED THE PROPELLER BY HAND. THE ENGINE STARTED. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE PILOT HAD FAILED TO ADEQUATELY SECURE THE AIRCRAFT TO THE PARKING FACILITY AND HAD 'MISTAKENLY' LEFT THE THROTTLE 'FULL OPEN', WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED, THE AIRPLANE JUMPED OVER THE CHOCKS. THE UNOCCUPIED AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF, CLIMBED TO 150 FT AGL, ROLLED LEFT, AND DESCENDED UNTIL CRASHING ONTO AIRPORT PROPERTY.
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: 625 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 610 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,021 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IZA Santa Ynez CA at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.