Amateur-built GREAT LAKES accident near Corona, California, June 28, 2015
On June 28, 2015 at about 7:04 pm local time, a 1979 amateur-built GREAT LAKES, registered N7LM, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Corona, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/spin at too low an altitude to allow recovery. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper fuel planning and his distraction by the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2015 · about 7:04 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GREAT LAKES 2T1A-E, built 1979
- Registration
- N7LM · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was taking his second passenger of the day on a sightseeing flight. Based on onboard video, after making several shallow turns, the airplane entered a steep left turn, the nose fell, and the airplane stalled; the pilot initiated a recovery. The passenger later stated that the airplane shook violently from side to side and that the pilot apologized to her over the microphone and stated that it would not happen again. The onboard video indicated that, less than 1 minute later and without gaining altitude, the pilot initiated a moderate turn. During the turn, the engine noise decreased, the airplane began to shake, and the airplane departed controlled flight. The video showed the pilot attempt to initiate a recovery. However, because of the airplane's low altitude, the pilot was not able to regain control, and the airplane struck the ground. On-site examination determined that the fuel tank was not breached. There was no fuel odor, no signs of leakage such as stains on the wing or ground, and the tank contained no fuel. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology results for the pilot revealed that the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine was detected in his urine but not in his blood. Thus, it would not have had any ongoing systemic effects. The pilot had coronary artery disease; however, it was unlikely that he had any symptoms that would have impaired his ability to safely operate the airplane, particularly given his reaction to the loss of control and his attempted recovery. It is likely that the pilot became distracted by the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and stalled the airplane, which entered a spin too low to the ground to allow recovery.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 478 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 109 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 27, 2015; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Fairchild 6-440-C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Corona CA at 6:50 pm
- Destination: Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 100 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:24 pm from KAJO, 8 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
8 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Onboard Image Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report (2 Embedded Images) | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Interview of Passenger | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB on Site Exam Report (14 Embedded Images) | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Airframe and Engine Exam Report (29 Embedded Images) | PDF, 21 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photos on Site | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.