Ryan-Navion NAV-4-1908 accident near Milpitas, California, September 22, 1984
On September 22, 1984 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Ryan-Navion NAV-4-1908, registered N4908K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milpitas, California (Fremont Ca airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- September 22, 1984 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Milpitas, California · Fremont Ca · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan-Navion NAV-4-1908
- Registration
- N4908K · no longer on the register · serial 1908
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AT ABOUT 220 FT AGL. THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN A GARBAGE DUMP. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES IN THE ACFT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE ENGINE STOPPAGE.THE REPORTED TEMPERATURE WAS 73 DEGREES F AND THE DEW POINT WAS 50 DEGREES F.
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: 354 hours in all; 153 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 283 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1984; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q59 Fremont CA at 4:38 pm
- Destination: SNS Salinas CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,310 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from SJC, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.