Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Luis Obispo, California 93401
Tuesady, March 31, 1987 15:50 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A PLEASURE FLT IN AN EXPERIMENTAL ACFT, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ENG SPUTTERED, HOWEVER, THE PLT CONTINUED THE FLT. AFTER TAKEOFF AT APRX 30 FT THE ENG SPUTTERED AGAIN. THE PLT MADE A SHARP 45 DEG TURN WHICH PUT HIM ON DOWNWIND, HOWEVER, THE ACFT WAS KEPT IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. AT APRX 300 FT THE ENG SPUTTERED AGAIN THEN QUIT. THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE ACFT COMPLETED ONE TURN AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A 70 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/31/1987
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1550
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SAN LUIS OBISPO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93401
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1449
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 31 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34818
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N792JB
NTSB Number LAX87DVM02
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOWERS
Aircraft Model FLYBABY 1A
Aircraft Series Identifier FLYBABY 1A
Aircraft Serial Number 67-48
Certified Max Gross Weight 1020
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Feb 20 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 1138
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KURT WEIR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2112 CARPENTER CANYON ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SAN LUIS OBISPO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WEIR, KURT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2112 CARPENTER CANYON ROAD
Operator City SAN LUIS OBISPO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93401
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1548
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --