Yuneec YUNEEC accident near Upland, California, November 1, 2013
On November 1, 2013 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 2013 Yuneec YUNEEC, registered N400XW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Upland, California (Cable airport). It was a business flight 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
The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2013 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Yuneec YUNEEC E-430, built 2013
- Registration
- N400XW · registry record · serial E430 CY-E2-8
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during approach to land he flared too high. The airplane subsequently landed hard, which collapsed the left main landing gear and nose gear, and substantially damaged the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 15, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 30, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 946 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Yuneec PD48 (electric); 45 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCB Upland CA at 2:15 pm
- Destination: CCB Upland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,863 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from KONT, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.