Amateur-built EAGLE II accident near Incline Village, Nevada, September 28, 1991
On September 28, 1991 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built EAGLE II, registered N432EC, was destroyed in an accident near Incline Village, Nevada. 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RECOVER FROM THE MANEUVER IN A TIMELY MANNER WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE STRIKING THE WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1991 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Incline Village, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EAGLE II
- Registration
- N432EC · no longer on the register · serial 0001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CHRISTIAN EAGLE II COLLIDED WITH THE WATER WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATICS. NUMEROUS WITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO AERODYNAMICALLY STALL AT THE TOP OF A VERTICAL CLIMB AS IN A HAMMERHEAD MANEUVER AND THEN ENTERED INTO A SPIN. THE AIRPLANE STOPPED SPINNING AND CONTINUED TO DESCEND IN A 45 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH THE WATER'S SURFACE. THE PILOT HELD A FAA STATEMENT OF ACROBATIC COMPETENCY WHICH WAS ISSUED ON MAY 13, 1991. ACCORDING TO THE CHRISTIAN EAGLE II PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK SPINS ARE APPROVED MANEUVERS AND MAY BE PERFORMED INTENTIONALLY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O04 Carson City NV at 8:15 pm
- Destination: TRK Truckee CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from TVL, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.