Ryan Navion accident near Los Angeles, California, December 10, 2005
On December 10, 2005 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Ryan Navion, registered N4403K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Angeles, California (Whiteman airport). 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
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a parked vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 10, 2005 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · Whiteman · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan Navion · all Navions on the register
- Registration
- N4403K · registry record · serial Nav-4-1403
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane's left wingtip struck a parked car while taxiing to its hangar after a flight. The accident occurred in the non-movement area of the airport. The car was stopped on the side of a taxi lane as the first two airplanes passed by it. As the third airplane (accident airplane) passed by it, the left wingtip struck the windshield. The accident pilot indicated that he was not able to judge the distance between the airplane's wingtip and the car due to sun glare from the car's windshield. The airport manager indicated that the car was as far to the side as possible and not encroaching on the taxiway, and that there was about 300 feet of space for the airplane to safely pass the car. The driver of the car reported that he was using a taxi lane commonly used for vehicle traffic and his car was stopped while all three airplanes were taxiing. The first two passed with no problems, and then the third airplane's wingtip struck his windshield.
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: 623 hours in all; 465 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 538 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,765.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E225 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP Los Angeles CA
- Destination: WHP Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.