Amateur-built E-RACER accident near Jackpot, Nevada, July 1, 1990
On July 1, 1990 at about 5:32 pm local time, a amateur-built E-RACER, registered N131RD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackpot, Nevada (Jackpot airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
AN UNDETERMINED FAILURE OR ANOMALY OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE OF THE FIBERGLASS STRUCTURE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT BRAKING SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1990 · about 5:32 pm local time
- Place
- Jackpot, Nevada · Jackpot · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built E-RACER
- Registration
- N131RD · registry record · serial ER-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AIR RACE, THE PILOT OF AN AMATEUR-BUILT E-RACER DETECTED AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE & MADE A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE ROLL-OUT, THE AIRCRAFT'S BRAKES FAILED DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE & THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT FIBERGLASS STRUCTURE AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD BEEN IGNITED BY HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.
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: 1,559 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,559 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 135 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 26, 1989; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Buick V-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06U at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 064
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
Other NTSB records under N131RD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.