Amateur-built TAILWIND W8L accident near San Jose, California, October 27, 1993
On October 27, 1993 at about 9:39 pm local time, a amateur-built TAILWIND W8L, registered N9052C, was destroyed in an accident near San Jose, California (San Jose Intl airport). 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 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S). A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1993 · about 9:39 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · San Jose Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TAILWIND W8L TAILWIND W
- Registration
- N9052C · no longer on the register · serial 9
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN IN STORAGE FOR 10 YRS. IN MAY 1993, IT WAS REMOVED FROM STORAGE AND A CONDITION INSPECTION PERFORMED. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE SECOND SINCE REMOVAL FROM STORAGE. AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS SEQUENCED FOR LANDING, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER HEARD A GARBLED TRANSMISSION FROM THE AIRPLANE CONCERNING THE ENGINE. NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE HEARD. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A RESIDENTIAL CITY STREET WITH THE PROPELLER STOPPED. IT THEN COLLIDED WITH 3 TREES, A PARKED PICKUP TRUCK, AND THE STREET. FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DRAINED ABOUT 10 GALS OF FUEL FROM THE FUSELAGE TANK AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE DRAINED FUEL HAD AN ODOR AND COLOR SIMILAR TO AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INSTALLED ON A TEST STAND AND RUN FOR 4 MIN 40 SECS. MAGNETO CHECKS WERE SATISFACTORY, AND THE ENGINE RESPONDED WELL TO RAPID THROTTLE MOVEMENTS.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,441 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1994; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: WVA Watsonville CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: SJC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from SJC, 12 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.