Amateur-built GLASAIR SUPER II RG accident near Santa Ynez, California, October 5, 2017
On October 5, 2017 at about 5:53 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built GLASAIR SUPER II RG, registered N248ST, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Santa Ynez, California (Santa Ynez airport). 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 partial loss of engine power for reasons that were not determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2017 · about 5:53 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Ynez, California · Santa Ynez · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR SUPER II RG NO SERIES, built 2010
- Registration
- N248ST · registry record · serial 001
- 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 his intent was to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The first takeoff and landing to a full stop was normal. The pilot reported he taxied back and initiated a full throttle takeoff. He reported that after lifting off at 70 knots, the engine continued to run but was no longer producing power, and the airplane began to descend. The pilot reduced the throttle and initiated a forced landing to a grass field. The airplane traveled through the airport perimeter fence and continued to a road where it contacted a dirt berm. The foreign manufactured engine was an unusual design. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to contact and work with the manufacturer to determine the cause of the partial loss of engine power.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 732.7 hours in all; 86.4 in this make and model; 3.3 in the last 90 days; 3.3 in the last 30 days; 709.3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2017; 43.5 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Mistral Engines SA G200-C1B (piston); 92 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IZA Santa Ynez CA at 5:53 pm
- Destination: IZA Santa Ynez CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,803 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KIZA
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR18LA007.