Boeing N2S-3 accident near Sonoma, California, February 9, 1991
On February 9, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Boeing N2S-3, registered N1065M, was destroyed in an accident near Sonoma, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND/CFI'S PERFORMANCE OF A LOW ALTITUDE AEROBATIC MANEUVER FROM WHICH HE FAILED TO RECOVER. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT RELATED TO THE PIC'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION, POOR JUDGMENT, AND HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sonoma, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing N2S-3 · all N2S-3s on the register
- Registration
- N1065M · no longer on the register · serial 75-7675
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRLINE CAPTAIN TOOK A 414-HOUR PRIVATE PILOT FOR AN AIRPLANE RIDE DURING WHICH A SERIES OF LOW LEVEL AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WERE PERFORMED. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE MANEUVERS AS BEING WING OVERS AND/OR LOOPS, AND THEY WERE PERFORMED AT PROGRESSIVELY LOWER ALTITUDES. THE PILOT(S) FAILED TO PULL OUT OF THE FINAL MANEUVER, AND THE DUAL CONTROL AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE FIELD WHILE IN A WINGS LEVEL AND A 60 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE OF STRESSFUL EVENTS IN THE PILOT'S PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE. ALSO, CANNABINOID METABOLITE WAS FOUND IN HIS URINE.
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, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.