Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Hesperia, California, March 21, 1989
On March 21, 1989 at about 7:13 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N239X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hesperia, California (Hesperia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY LATCH THE CANOPY PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND BY ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER INTO A STALL DURING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLIGHT AT AN ATTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO RECOVER SAFELY. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF HIS EYEGLASSES WHEN THE CANOPY DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 1989 · about 7:13 pm local time
- Place
- Hesperia, California · Hesperia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N239X · no longer on the register · serial 812
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE PILOT TAXI TO THE RUNWAY WITH THE CANOPY CRACKED OPEN APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES. THE PILOT ENTERED THE RUNWAY AND DEPARTED WITHOUT PRE-TAKEOFF OR COCKPIT CHECK. SOON AFTER TAKEOFF THE CANOPY DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT ALONG WITH THE PILOT'S GLASSES WHICH WERE BOTH FOUND ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT RETURNED TO LAND AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED INTO A STALL AND SPUN INTO THE GROUND FROM AN ATTITUDE OF 100 FEET ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY.
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: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 1989; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L26 Hesperia CA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,910 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.