I.C.A. Brasov IS-28M2 accident near Porterville, California, August 24, 1986
On August 24, 1986 at about 2:09 am local time, a I.C.A. Brasov IS-28M2 (glider), registered N9023B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Porterville, California (Porterville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 24, 1986 · about 2:09 am local time
- Place
- Porterville, California · Porterville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- I.C.A. Brasov IS-28M2
- Registration
- N9023B · registry record · serial 22
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD WHIR THEN A BOOM SOUND. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED VIBRATING SO THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. HAVING GAINED 200 TO 300 FEET OF ALT THE PILOT INITIATED A LEFT 180 DEG TURN TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ROLLED THE ACFT WINGS LEVEL AND WAS FOUR TO SIX FEET AGL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONE OF THE THREE WOODED PROPELLER BLADES HAD SEPARATED FROM THE HUB FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 9,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 177 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1985; 80 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Limbach SL1700EI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTV Porterville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 6,000 ft by 146 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.