Cessna 140 accident near Ojai, California, May 7, 1991
On May 7, 1991 at about 1:50 am local time, a Cessna 140, registered N89828, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ojai, California (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNDRAFT WEATHER CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1991 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Ojai, California · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N89828 · no longer on the register · serial 8877
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APPROACHING THE DESTINATION AIRSTRIP, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND 500 TO 1500 FEET PER MINUTE DOWNDRAFTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL ENGINE POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE AIRPLANE OVERFLEW THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND A DIRT BERM.
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: 500 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.