Boeing A75L3 accident near Carlsbad, California, March 22, 1993
On March 22, 1993 at about 1:12 am local time, a Boeing A75L3, registered N58969, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlsbad, California (Carlsbad Palomar airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION IN THAT HE FAILED TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1993 · about 1:12 am local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, California · Carlsbad Palomar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75L3 · all A75L3s on the register
- Registration
- N58969 · registry record · serial 75-7871
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE LANDING PATTERN WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED TO CONTROLLERS IN THE CONTROL TOWER THAT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A BERM SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING A POWER OFF FORCED LANDING ON THE RUNWAY. FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT. THEY REPORTED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS INTACT, WITH NO BREAKS OR LEAKS DETECTED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS OR SYSTEM LINES, AND, ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL GASCOLATOR. IN A STATEMENT TO FAA INSPECTORS THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FLEW FIVE SEPARATE FLIGHTS ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT TOTALLING TWO HOURS AND 50 MINUTES. THE PILOT SAID HE BEGAN THE DAY WITH A FULL FUEL TANK AND USED THE FUEL GAGE TO QUANTIFY THE FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK. FUEL WAS AVAILABLE AT THE AIRPORT THE PILOT WAS OPERATING FROM.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,820 hours in all; 114 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,084 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 18, 1992; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,717 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ
- Destination: CRQ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:12 am from CRQ, 1 miles away
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.
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.