Stinson L-5B accident near Victorville, California, August 2, 1990
On August 2, 1990, a Stinson L-5B, registered N1718M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Victorville, California (George Afb airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE OIL GAUGE LINE 'B' NUT BACKED OFF, AND THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1990 · cases in 1990
- Place
- Victorville, California · George Afb · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson L-5B · all L-5Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1718M · registry record · serial 42-14927
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE TO SANTA PAULA AIRPORT OVER A DESERT AREA, THE PILOT FELT A HOT OIL SPRAY EMANATING FROM BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE LANDING SITE SELECTED WAS NEAR HIGH TRANSMISSION WIRES, WHICH HE PROBABLY DID NOT SEE UNTIL THE AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH. THE PILOT PULLED THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE UP TO CROSS OVER THE TOP OF THE WIRES AND ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO RAPIDLY DECAY. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE LINE 'B' NUT HAD BACKED OFF.
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: 185 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 82 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,701 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1990; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: World Wide Aeronautical INC.
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA
- Destination: SZP Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1718M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Stinson L-5 125 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Stinson 1,728 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-435-C 5 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Southern California Logistics Airport · nearest airport
- Apple Valley Airport · departed from
- Santa Paula Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,158 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX90LA272.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.