Amateur-built B75N1 accident near Victorville, California, March 21, 1997
On March 21, 1997 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built B75N1, registered N68800, was substantially damaged in an accident near Victorville, California (Southern California Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 1997 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Victorville, California · Southern California Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B75N1
- Registration
- N68800 · registry record · serial 1694
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the landing rollout, the left wheel failed and the airplane became uncontrollable. The airplane ground looped, and the left gear came off and struck the propeller. An FAA inspector was present at the time of the accident and reported that the landing was made with a slight quartering tailwind, but appeared normal. However; the airplane became airborne again after initial touchdown, and it subsequently ground looped, shearing the left main landing gear. According to the inspector, there was no indication of brakes being used, and the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft. The FAA inspector examined the aircraft and found no discrepancy with the control system, brakes, or landing gear.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,659 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,659 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 31, 1996; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985 AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCB Upland CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: VCV CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 9,136 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.