Polliwagen Inc. UNKNOWN accident near Bakersfield, California, July 8, 1985
On July 8, 1985 at about 2:17 am local time, a Polliwagen Inc. UNKNOWN, registered N81PW, was destroyed in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Bakers Field Airpark). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- July 8, 1985 · about 2:17 am local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Bakers Field Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Polliwagen Inc. UNKNOWN
- Registration
- N81PW · registry record · serial 0003
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON JULY 7, 1985, AT 1917 PDT, A POLLIWAGEN, N81PW, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO AROUND AT BAKERSFIELDAIRPARK, BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VMC PREVAILED AT THE TIME; NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, AT ABOUT 1800 PDT. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT MADE A NORMAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30 AND WHEN IT WAS 10 TO 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO MAKE A GO AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT REPORTEDLY CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 TO 150 FEET AGL. THE WITNESS LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THAT TIME BUT STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE BACKFIRE 2 OR 3 TIMES AND THEN HEARD THE IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ADJACENT TO AN FAA HANGAR. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT INSIDE THE HANGAR. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT BURNED AND A DEMPSEY DUMSPSTER AND AN UNOCCUPIED PARKED AUTOMOBILE WERE DAMAGED BY FIRE.
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: 1,432 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 827 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 317 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1985; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Polliwagen, INC
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 1:00 am
- Destination: L86 Murrieta CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,150 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 am from BFL, 7 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.
Other NTSB records under N81PW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.