Stinson L-5 accident near Chino, California, August 27, 1988
On August 27, 1988 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Stinson L-5, registered N723E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- August 27, 1988 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson L-5 · all L-5s on the register
- Registration
- N723E · registry record · serial 76-189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING AND DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE COMING TO REST INVERTED. FUEL WAS OBSERVED TO BE LEAKING FROM THE LEFT WING. WHEN THE FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL TANKS, THE RIGHT CONTAINED 3 GALLONS, THE LEFT CONTAINED 10 GALLONS. THE PILOT HAD BEEN OPERATING OFF OF THE RIGHT TANK. THERE WAS NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. IT HAD BEEN APPROXIMATELY TWO AND A HALF YEARS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION.
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: 550 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 520 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,367 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1985; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,856 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from CNO, 1 miles away
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.