Amateur-built U-2 accident near Porterville, California, July 26, 1988
On July 26, 1988, a amateur-built U-2 (ultralight), registered N9192V, was destroyed in an accident near Porterville, California. 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
- July 26, 1988
- Place
- Porterville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built U-2
- Registration
- N9192V · registry record · serial U-627
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, WHILE SOARING WITH THE ENGINE AT IDLE, THE FLYING WING MOTOR GLIDER INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A STALL. THE PILOT DID NOT RECOVER FROM THE STALL AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SPIN. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AGL. HE THEN REGAINED ABOUT 200 FEET OF ALTITUDE; HOWEVER, WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A GRAPE VINEYARD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS PREVIOUS TO THIS FLIGHT BUT THOUGHT HE HAD RESOLVED THEM.
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: 237 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 167 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 17, 1988; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Zenoah G25B-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTV Porterville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°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.
Other NTSB records under N9192V 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.