Amateur-built BROWN 2 accident near San Carlos, California, July 21, 1991
On July 21, 1991 at about 5:15 pm local time, a amateur-built BROWN 2, registered N255Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Carlos, California (San Carlos airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1991 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- San Carlos, California · San Carlos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BROWN 2
- Registration
- N255Y · registry record · serial T2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE NON-RADIO EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT ENTER THE PATTERN IN COMPANY WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT AS A FLIGHT OF TWO. THE FIRST AIRCRAFT LANDED, HOWEVER, THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT INITIATED A GO AROUND. GROUND WITNESSES SAID THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING STRONG POWER SOUNDS THROUGH OUT THE SEQUENCE. JUST AFTER THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN THE GO AROUND MANEUVER, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY ROLLED INVERTED AND STRUCK A PARKED AIRCRAFT AND TWO FENCES. FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT. CONTROL SYSTEM CONTINUITY WAS TRACED THROUGHOUT THE AIRCRAFT. NO OTHER SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE EXAMINATION. IN HIS WRITTEN ACCIDENT REPORT, THE PILOT SAID THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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: 825 hours in all; 38 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 780 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Fairchild 6-440 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q99 Gilroy CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:15 pm from SQL, 1 miles away
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.