I.C.A. Brasov 2902.11.01.001 LARK accident near Orland, California, February 24, 1990
On February 24, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a I.C.A. Brasov 2902.11.01.001 LARK (glider), registered N123MR, was destroyed in an accident near Orland, 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
THE PILOTS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF EXPERIENCING AN EPILEPTIC SEIZURE. A FACTOR WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INGESTION OF AN ANTICONVULSANT DRUG THAT CAUSES DROWSINESS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Orland, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- I.C.A. Brasov 2902.11.01.001 LARK 2902.11.01
- Registration
- N123MR · registry record · serial 76
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A TOW RELEASE THE GLIDER WAS OBSERVED DOING TURNS, STALLS AND RECOVERIES WHICH APPEARED NORMAL. IT WAS THEN OBSERVED HEADING STRAIGHT DOWN ROTATING ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS. THE PILOT WAS REPORTEDLY AN EPILEPTIC SUBJECT TO SEIZURES. TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS REVEALED THE DRUG CARBAMAZEPINE PRESENT IN THE BLOOD AND URINE SAMPLES AT THERAPEUTIC LEVELS. THE DRUG IS AN ANTICONVULSANT WHICH CAN RESULT IN DROWSINESS.
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
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 037 at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- 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.