Great Lakes 2T1A accident near San Diego, California, September 24, 2020
On September 24, 2020 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1978 Great Lakes 2T1A, registered N3617L, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near San Diego, California (Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Air airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a hard landing off airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2020 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T1A 2, built 1978 · all 2T1As on the register
- Registration
- N3617L · no longer on the register · serial 0815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, during the first takeoff of the day, with the pilot receiving instruction on the flight controls, the engine lost power shortly after takeoff about 350 ft above the runway. The flight instructor took control and established a 75-mph glide and initiated a steep angle-of-bank turn attempting to return to the runway. The flight instructor checked that the throttle, mixture control, and propeller were full forward, and the fuel shutoff was in the ON position. During the descent, the airplane struck a tree then impacted a parking lot adjacent to the airport perimeter. A witness at the airport reported that he heard the engine sputtering and observed it level off about 300 ft above ground level while making a right turn. The engine lost power, the airplane slowed dramatically, and the nose of the airplane started going down. The airplane recovered enough airspeed to bring the nose up just before the collision with a tree north of the runway. The airplane came to rest upright with significant damage to the engine compartment, and substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,200 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 7,200 as pilot in command; 2,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: powered-lift; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; instrument: powered-lift; rotorcraft: helicopter; rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Flight time: 2,476 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 838 as pilot in command; 323 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,086 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 24, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B166 (piston); 25 hours total
- Operator: Association Aircraft
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 4,598 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KMYF
Weather report (METAR): KMYF 242153Z 23007KT 10SM CLR 28/17 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP119 T02830172
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2022. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement from FAA Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Interview Notes Pilot Receiving Training | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Engine and Airframe Exam | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Video of Impact from Loading Dock | AVI file | Download |
| 7 | Photos | PDF, 7 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.