Boeing E75 accident near San Luis Obispo, California, June 30, 1991
On June 30, 1991 at about 4:38 pm local time, a Boeing E75, registered N68809, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis Obispo 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
THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE OF THE EXISTING QUARTERING TAILWIND, IMPROPERLY USING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1991 · about 4:38 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis Obispo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing E75 · all E75s on the register
- Registration
- N68809 · registry record · serial 75-8414
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD MADE ONE LANDING AND TAKEOFF ON THE 4800 FT LONG AND 100 FT WIDE RUNWAY. WHEN ON THE DOWNWIND LEG THE SURFACE WINDS SHIFTED TO A QUARTERING TAILWIND. THE LOCAL CONTROLLER DID NOT ADVISE THE PILOT OF THE WIND CHANGE AND CLEARED THE FLIGHT TO LAND. UPON TOUCH DOWN THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES TO ARREST THE GROUND LOOP. EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKES AND TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 397 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 397 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,717 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-B4E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.