Amateur-built QUICKSILVER GT-500 accident near Palmas Del Mar, Puerto Rico, July 1, 1994
On July 1, 1994 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built QUICKSILVER GT-500, registered N4287L, was destroyed in an accident near Palmas Del Mar, Puerto Rico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S ABRUPT LOWERING OF THE FLAPS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR RECOVERY, AND THE PILOT'S UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1994 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Palmas Del Mar, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKSILVER GT-500 QUICKSILVE
- Registration
- N4287L · no longer on the register · serial 942
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED MANEUVERING ALONG THE SHORELINE AT ABOUT 20 FT ABOVE THE WATER. THE SURVIVING PASSENGER STATED THE PILOT WAS LOWERING THE FLAPS TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE TO POINT OUT AN APARTMENT. AS THE PILOT QUICKLY LOWERED THE FLAPS THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN, HIT THE WATER, AND SANK.
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
- Flight time: 208 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 14, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 942 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax R-582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 30,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from TJS, 41 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.