Amateur-built RANGER accident near Lancaster, California, January 27, 1986
On January 27, 1986 at about 11:01 pm local time, a amateur-built RANGER, registered N5128T, was destroyed in an accident near Lancaster, California (Gen. Wm S. Fox airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- January 27, 1986 · about 11:01 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · Gen. Wm S. Fox · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANGER
- Registration
- N5128T · registry record · serial SR83014SC
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN A FLAT STALLED ATTITUDE AT A HIGH SINK RATE AFTER A POWER LOSS IN AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. THE PILOT HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO STAND-BY FOR A GO-AROUND BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. THE PLT CONTINUED HIS APPROACH OFF-SET TO THE NORTH OF THE RWY, AT 50 FT AGL DURING HIS GO-AROUND ATTEMPT THE ENG FAILED TO RESPOND. THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE DIRT BESIDE THE RWY.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 18, 1985
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 2 CYCLE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 008° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from WJF
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.