St. Claire Ragtop-01 accident near Perris, California, September 19, 2007
On September 19, 2007 at about 7:04 pm local time, a St. Claire Ragtop-01, registered N3134Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Perris, California (Perris Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an aborted landing. Contributing factors to the accident were the fence and the undetermined brake malfunction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2007 · about 7:04 pm local time
- Place
- Perris, California · Perris Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- St. Claire Ragtop-01
- Registration
- N3134Q · no longer on the register · serial 489-2321
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a fence during an aborted landing and the airplane nosed into the ground. During the landing, the pilot noticed that the hand brake was not working. Approximately midfield, the pilot applied full power to abort the landing. A tractor was parked near the end of the runway and the pilot turned the airplane to the left in order to avoid it. During this turn, the left wheel impacted a chain link fence and the airplane impacted the ground. Due to damage sustained to the airplane, the source of the brake malfunction was not determined.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 1, 2007
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L65 Perris CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway N
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KRIV, 7 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.