Amateur-built MARCO J-5 accident near Clearwater, Florida, October 2, 1990
On October 2, 1990 at about 7:10 pm local time, a amateur-built MARCO J-5, registered N10EK, was destroyed in an accident near Clearwater, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BRAKES AT A LOW ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1990 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Clearwater, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MARCO J-5
- Registration
- N10EK · no longer on the register · serial 0135
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 15 AND REMAINED IN A CLOSED LEFT TRAFFIC PATTERN. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ON AN EXTENDED DOWNWIND ABOVE A RESIDENTAL AREA BETWEEN 50 AND 150 FEET AGL. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WITH AN ESTIMATED ANGLE OF BANK BETWEEN 45 AND 75 DEGREES. THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN 45 DEGREES AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED RAPIDLY. THE LEFT WING TIP COLLIDED WITH A ROOF TOP PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE CRASHING ON THE ROOF. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FLAPERONS AND AIR BRAKE WERE EXTENDED.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 28 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 36 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 1990; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 370 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Iame KFM1-7ERMAX1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from CLW, 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.