Amateur-built C2 accident near John Day, Oregon, July 9, 1989
On July 9, 1989 at about 6:43 pm local time, a amateur-built C2, registered N129C, was substantially damaged in an accident near John Day, Oregon (John Day airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IMPROPERLY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE AIRPLANE BY ELONGATING HOLES AT THE WING ATTACHMENT. THE CHANGE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL. AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGE, THE WING SEPARATED AT THE SPAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1989 · about 6:43 pm local time
- Place
- John Day, Oregon · John Day · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built C2
- Registration
- N129C · no longer on the register · serial 12
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THE PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN ASSEMBLING THE LEFT WING, THE MOUNT BOLTS WOULD NOT ALIGN. THE PILOT DRILLED NEW HOLES ELONGATING THE ORIGINAL HOLES. THE WING WAS ASSEMBLED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF. JUST AFTER LIFT OFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO PORPOISE. SHORTLY THERE AFTER, THE LEFT WING FOLDED BACK AND UP. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED INVERTED TO THE LEFT AND SKIDDED DOWN THE RUNWAY. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE WING BROKE AWAY AT THE SPAR. DRY ROT WAS NOTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE.
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: 135 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 338 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,436 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.