Eagle DW-1 accident near Near Bakersfiel, California, October 14, 1982
On October 14, 1982 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Eagle DW-1, registered N88126, was destroyed in an accident near Near Bakersfiel, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1982 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Near Bakersfiel, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eagle DW-1
- Registration
- N88126 · registry record · serial DW1007982
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A TURN-AROUND WHILE SPRAYING A COTTON FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED ROLLING TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT COULD NOT STOP IT. HE STATED THE LEFT SPOILER REMAINED DEPLOYED AND WOULD NOT CLOSE. HE FOUGHT THE ROLL UNTIL IT IMPACTED WITH THE GROUND. THE LEFT SPOILER WAS FOUND IN THE VERTICAL POSITION AND THE RIGHT SPOILER WAS FLUSH WITH THE WING SURFACE. DUE TO POOR ROLL RATE AND HIGH ASPECT RATIO, SPOILERS HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE LOWER WING. THEY CAN BE INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED FROM THE COCKPIT OR WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AILERONS. ACCORDING TO AN FAA ENGINEERING TEST PLT, THE SPOILERS HAVE LIMITED AUTHORITY, AND IF ONE IS MANUALLY DEPLOYED TO THE FULL UP POSITION IT CAN BE OVER- RIDDEN WITH OPPOSITE AILERON. THE PLT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME A SPOILER HAD STUCK OPEN. THE WING WAS CUT OPEN AND NO REASON FOR THE SPOILERS STICKING COULD BE FOUND.
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
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,951 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8,747 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-M185D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eagle Aircraft CO.
The flight
- Departed from: Shater CA at 1:25 pm
- Destination: Shater CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.