Cessna 140 accident near Newhall, California, June 24, 1992
On June 24, 1992 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76962, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newhall, California. 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 PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO FLY HIS AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1992 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Newhall, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76962 · registry record · serial 25063-6-12
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT INITIATED A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT INTO A MOUNTAIN PASS. EN ROUTE THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE, DOWNDRAFTS, AND WAS UNABLE TO OUT CLIMB THE RISING ELEVATION OF THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A ROAD. DURING ROLLLOUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND A BERM. NO EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED TO THE SAFETY BOARD SHOWING THAT THE STUDENT PILOT'S FLIGHT HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED BY A CFI OR THAT THE PILOT WAS CURRENT. THE FAA HAD PREVIOUSLY WARNED THE PILOT NOT TO PERFORM UNAUTHORIZED FLIGHTS IN HIS AIRPLANE.
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: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,829 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 25, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,470 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: CL46 Gorman CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.