Vans Aircraft RV-3 accident near Bakersfield, California, June 15, 1990
On June 15, 1990 at about 8:09 pm local time, a Vans Aircraft RV-3, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N9030N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Bakersfield Muni). 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 PILOTS LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER A TOUCH AND GO LANDING IN A NEWLY ACQUIRED HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1990 · about 8:09 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Bakersfield Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vans Aircraft RV-3, amateur-built
- Registration
- N9030N · no longer on the register · serial 417
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS IN A NEWLY PURCHASED HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY 31. THE WINDS WERE 340 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS. THE RUNWAY WAS 50 FEET WIDE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1990
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,150 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from BFL, 7 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.