Amateur-built DOLPHIN accident near Paso Robles, California, June 17, 1995
On June 17, 1995 at about 3:52 pm local time, a amateur-built DOLPHIN, registered N89JH, was destroyed in an accident near Paso Robles, California (Paso Robles Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE. THE WEATHER CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1995 · about 3:52 pm local time
- Place
- Paso Robles, California · Paso Robles Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DOLPHIN
- Registration
- N89JH · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS ONE OF TWO AIRCRAFT THAT WERE FLYING TOGETHER TO PASO ROBLES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. THE WEATHER AT THE AIRPORT WAS REPORTED AS A 600-FOOT CEILING WITH 3 MILES VISIBILITY IN FOG. THE PILOT OF THE SECOND AIRPLANE WAS IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OF THE SECOND AIRPLANE, THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD DESCENDED INTO THE TOP OF THE FOG. THE SECOND AIRPLANE PILOT ASKED THE ACCIDENT PILOT WHERE HE WAS. THE ACCIDENT PILOT STATED, 'I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM.' THERE WERE NO FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS HEARD FROM THE ACCIDENT PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE OUTBOARD 4 FEET OF THE LEFT WING WAS FOUND ABOUT 150 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. AN EXAM OF THE WING FRACTURES REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE WING HAD SEPARATED IN AN UPWARD AND AFT DIRECTION. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
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: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FCH Fresno CA
- Destination: PRB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from PRB, 1 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.