Vans Aircraft RV-4 accident near Apple Valley, California, November 12, 2005
On November 12, 2005 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Vans Aircraft RV-4, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N14GK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apple Valley, California. 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
a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 2005 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vans Aircraft RV-4, amateur-built
- Registration
- N14GK · registry record · serial 580
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he struck power wires during an attempted forced landing after a loss of engine power. About 12 to 15 minutes after departure the airplane experienced a partial loss of power and the pilot decided to make an emergency landing on a dirt road. Throughout the descent the engine would momentarily regain then lose power repeatedly. On short final approach, the engine responded and the pilot applied full power. At that moment the aircraft struck the power lines while attempting to climb out. The pilot was able to recover but noticed a 2-foot section of his left wing had been torn off. The pilot was able to maneuver and land at a nearby airport approximately 15 minutes later. The pilot reported that he has not been able to resolve the reason for the engine power loss. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction of the engine.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 990 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,010 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AE101BF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L26 Hesperia CA
- Destination: KVGT Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.