Amateur-built MURPHY SR 2500 accident near Bakersfield, California, August 12, 2000
On August 12, 2000 at about 2:00 am local time, a amateur-built MURPHY SR 2500, registered N24VW, was destroyed in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Pvt Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Adjustment by other maintenance personnel of the idle speed stop screw. The idle speed stop screw was backed off from the throttle shaft arm, not allowing the butterfly valve to operate properly, which resulted in the butterfly valve remaining closed during a power input via the throttle control linkage during the approach to landing phase.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2000 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Pvt Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MURPHY SR 2500 MURPHY SR
- Registration
- N24VW · no longer on the register · serial 024
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an emergency landing the left wing of the airplane struck an irrigation standpipe, and the airplane was destroyed in a post impact fire. The pilot reduced the power to descend and circle to land at a dirt airstrip. When he advanced the throttle to arrest the airplane's descent there was no corresponding power increase. He conducted the emergency procedures, but was unable to restart the engine. He overflew the airstrip and attempted an emergency landing in a cornfield. Review of the airplane's power plant logbook revealed that an overhauled engine had been installed on the experimental airplane in March 1999. The last entry was December 8, 1999, when the engine was test ran, and the fuel injection system was adjusted according to manufacturer's specifications. No further entries were found in the airframe or power plant logbooks. During the engine examination the throttle valve was found jammed in the closed position. Investigators also found the idle speed stop screw backed off from the throttle shaft arm about 1/8 inch. No further mechanical anomalies were noted.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 48 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 4, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 194°F (90°C), dew point 126°F (52°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from BFL, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.