Aeronca 50F accident near Ontario, California, May 30, 1989
On May 30, 1989 at about 11:42 pm local time, a Aeronca 50F, registered N23954, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ontario, California (Ontario airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN A CLIMB.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1989 · about 11:42 pm local time
- Place
- Ontario, California · Ontario · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 50F · all 50Fs on the register
- Registration
- N23954 · registry record · serial F6189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED EITHER A STRONG DOWN DRAFT OR WIND SHEAR DURING CLIMBOUT AT APPROXIMATELY 150 FT AGL. HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE GROUND.
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: 330 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,130 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Observation at 11:46 pm from ONT, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.