NTSB LAX85LA281 — 1985-06-15 · UPPER LAKE, California, United States

Current FAA registration · N80GL

Make / Model: LYONS OTIS G MA-5 CHARGER
Year of manufacture: 1980 · 5 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19810212
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AAE025

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N80GL OTIS G. LYONS MARQUART CHARGER MA5 None

Factual narrative

THE PLT ELECTED TO TAKE OFF IN HIS TAILDRAGGER ON RWY 19 WHICH IS 4050 FT LONG & 200 FT WIDE DURING A PERIOD WHEN THE WIND WAS ESTIMATED AT 270 DEG, 20 KTS, WITH GUSTS TO 25 KTS. THE PLT STATED THAT AT ROTATION FULL RT RUDDER WAS APPLIED, BUT HIS HOMEBUILT, BIPLANE CONTINUED TO DRIFT LT. THE ACFT DRIFTED OFF THE RWY, COLLIDED WITH BRUSH & 'CARTWHEELED TO A STOP WITH A BROKEN LEFT LOWER WING.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1985_LAX85LA281.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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