Quicksilver GT-400 accident near Chula Vista, California, March 23, 2026
On March 23, 2026 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1984 Quicksilver GT-400, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N120LF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Chula Vista, California (John Nichol'S Fld 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
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and a subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 2026 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chula Vista, California · John Nichol'S Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quicksilver GT-400, built 1984, amateur-built · all GT-400s on the register
- Registration
- N120LF · registry record · serial 1042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a local flight in the airport traffic pattern in an airplane he had recently purchased. During a landing attempt the airplane landed hard and bounced at which time the pilot applied full power to perform a go-around. He then elected to abort the go-around and land after he determined the airplane would not clear trees at the end of the runway. The airplane overran the runway end and impacted brush, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that he later learned he did not have sufficient flaps extended for the landing configuration. The pilot reported there were 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 198.5 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 18, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 857.2 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 28, 2026; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 716 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 SCDI (piston); 4 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,036 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KSDM, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSDM 232153Z VRB06KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP122 T02280139=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Damaged right wing
Photograph 2 – Damaged right wing
Photograph 3 – Damaged left wing
Photograph 4 – Damaged left wing
Photograph 5 – Forward fuselage damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 1, 2026. 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 | Photos | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 WPR26LA148.