Globe GC-1B accident near Cucamonga, California, April 5, 1992
On April 5, 1992 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered N302CB, was destroyed in an accident near Cucamonga, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO AVOID THE RISING TERRAIN OF THE BOX CANYON, AND, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED MARGIN ABOVE STALL WHILE MANEUVERING IN AN ATTEMPT TO REVERSE COURSE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT HAVING BEEN DISTRACTED BY THE LEAD AIRPLANE'S PILOT BROADCAST THAT HE HAD BECOME TRAPPED IN THE CANYON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1992 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cucamonga, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N302CB · registry record · serial 231
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, AND A FRIEND FLYING IN A SECOND SIMILAR MODEL AIRPLANE WHICH ALSO CRASHED, PROCEEDED UP A BOX CANYON. DURING THE LOOSE FORMATION FLIGHT THE ACCIDENT PILOT WAS IN TRAIL. THE PILOT OF THE LEAD AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT BOTH HE AND HIS FRIEND WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE CANYON. THE PILOT OF THE LEAD AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT ENTERING THE CANYON HE INTENTIONALLY DESCENDED TO 250 FEET AGL. WITNESSES ESTIMATED THAT THE LEAD AIRPLANE FLEW UP THE CANYON BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET AGL, WHILE THE ACCIDENT (SECOND) AIRPLANE FLEW UP THE CANYON BETWEEN 300 AND 600 FEET AGL. THE PILOT OF THE LEAD AIRPLANE STATED THAT HE BROADCAST TO THE ACCIDENT PILOT THAT HE HAD BECOME TRAPPED IN THE CANYON. THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO COMMENCE A STEEP LEFT BANK (COURSE REVERSAL) TURN, AND THEN DESCEND WHEREUPON THE SOUND OF AN IMPACT WAS HEARD. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE. (SEE REPORT NUMBER LAX92LA166 FOR DETAILS OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S CRASH.)
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: 270 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L12 Redlands CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: CCB Upland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from ONT, 8 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.