Amateur-built PHOENIX accident near Cayucos, California, January 25, 1991
On January 25, 1991 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built PHOENIX, registered N2027C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cayucos, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND HIS MISJUDGMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT FOLLOWING THE PILOT'S DECISION TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE TRIM TAB ROD FROM THE TRIM TAB, PRODUCING AN UNUSUAL VIBRATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 1991 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cayucos, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PHOENIX
- Registration
- N2027C · registry record · serial 31200H
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT IN AN EXPERIMENTAL HOME BUILT AIRPLANE, THE PRIVATE PILOT FELT A VIBRATION IN THE CONTROL STICK. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A AREA OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, MISJUDGED THE LANDING APPROACH TO A FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH A HILL. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THAT THE TRIM TAB ADJUSTING ROD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TRIM TAB, ALLOWING THE TAB TO VIBRATE IN THE SLIPSTREAM.
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: 232 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honda 1324 C.C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBP San Luis Obispo CA at 8:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°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.
Other NTSB records under N2027C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX91LA099.