- Date
- February 21, 1994, 12:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Kernville, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N33029Piper J5A-L4F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940221002669A
- Case key
- 28670
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper use of the flight controls resulting in his failure to maintain directional control. The existing crosswind is a factor in this accident.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot ground looped the airplane during the landing roll-out. Ground witnesses reported that a 90-degree crosswind existed at the time. The pilot was unable to maintain directional and exited the runway environment. The right main landing gear collapsed when the airplane exited the runway.
Factual narrative
On February 21, 1994, about 1210 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper J5A-L4F, N33029, exited runway 35 during landing roll-out at the Kern Valley Airport, Kernville, California. The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Kern Valley Airport at 1150 hours.
An FAA operations inspector, Fresno Flight Standards District Office, reported that the pilot was landing in crosswind conditions. During the landing roll, the pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane ground looped and departed the runway backwards, receiving damage to the right landing gear, right wing, and aileron.
The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that during the landing roll-out he encountered "a strong gust of wind about 90 degrees to the runway heading. He said that the airspeed was too slow to execute a go- around.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N33029
- Reported as
- Piper J5A-L4F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5-430
- Airframe hours
- 2,231
- Engine
- Continental C-85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Landis, Hal B.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 10, 1993 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- L05
- Airport
- L05 · Kern Valley, runway 35, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,500 total · 700 in this make and model · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.