Amateur-built SPORT-S accident near Fallbrook, California, April 10, 1993
On April 10, 1993 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SPORT-S, registered N36JD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fallbrook, California (Fallbrook Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO VISUALLY CLEAR THE RUNWAY BEFORE STARTING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AT THE TIME OF LIFTOFF WHICH RESULTED IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1993 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fallbrook, California · Fallbrook Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SPORT-S
- Registration
- N36JD · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A MONG SPORT S HOME BUILT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DURING A PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE IS EQUIPPED WITH CONVENTIONAL LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT TAXIED ONTO THE RUNWAY BEHIND A DEPARTING AIRPLANE. AS THE PILOT STARTED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL, HIS FORWARD VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE ENGINE COWLING. WHEN THE PILOT LIFTED THE TAILWHEEL, HE SAW THE OTHER AIRPLANE STILL ON THE RUNWAY AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT THEN LIFTED HIS AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY AND TURNED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE OTHER AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY. THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE THEN STALLED, DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED, AND COLLIDED WITH DOWNSLOPING TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT.
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
- Flight time: 4,721 hours in all; 303 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 4,613 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 303 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1992; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,025 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-14F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from CRQ, 14 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.