Amateur-built GS-2 SPORT accident near Ramona, California, January 6, 2009
On January 6, 2009 at about 1:00 am local time, a amateur-built GS-2 SPORT, registered N756R, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Ramona, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 2009 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GS-2 SPORT
- Registration
- N756R · registry record · serial 7127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after making an adjustment to the fuel servo, and during the maintenance test flight to determine the cause of the known high oil temperature condition, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine without success and subsequently initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll the airplane collided with a fence, substantially damaging the elevator. After the airplane was recovered from the field the engine was inspected and prepared for an engine run. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector overseeing the run reported that, other than an initial fuel rich condition, the engine started and ran normally.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,778 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 11,678 as pilot in command; 10,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 18, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 2, 2008; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming IO-390 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNM Ramona CA
- Destination: RNM Ramona CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.