North American NA-64 accident near Bakersfield, California, August 23, 1992
On August 23, 1992 at about 3:10 pm local time, a North American NA-64, registered N3201U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Meadows Field). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE ONTO THE BRAKE LINING AND DRUM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1992 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Meadows Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American NA-64 · all NA-64s on the register
- Registration
- N3201U · registry record · serial 64-2202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING LANDING THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TURNING TO THE LEFT. HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE TURNING TENDENCY WITH RIGHT RUDDER AND BRAKE APPLICATION; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY GROUND LOOPED AND COLLAPSED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE BRAKES WERE EXAMINED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED ON THE BRAKE DRUM AND LINING. DISASSEMBLY OF THE LEFT BRAKE CYLINDER REVEALED DEEP CORROSION PITS ON THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE CYLINDER. DUE TO THE MANUFACTURE DATE OF THE AIRPLANE, VEGETABLE BASE (AUTOMOTIVE) BRAKE FLUID IS USED. IT WAS REPORTED THAT UNLIKE MINERAL BASE BRAKE FLUID USED IN MODERN AIRCRAFT, 'VEGETABLE BASE FLUID WILL NOT TOLERATE HIGH TEMPERATURE AND WILL CAUSE A BRAKE LINING TO 'GRAB' THE DRUM DURING HEAVY BRAKE APPLICATION.'
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: 2,200 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 1992; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,512 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-975-E3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30R, 10,857 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N3201U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX92LA363.