Curtiss JN-4D accident near Livermore, California, December 26, 1992
On December 26, 1992 at about 7:41 pm local time, a Curtiss JN-4D, registered N5001, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, California (Meadowlark Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SHEARING OF THE NUMBER 8 CYLINDER ROCKER ARM SUPPORT PEDESTAL/COOLANT HOUSING RETAINING BOLTS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 1992 · about 7:41 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Meadowlark Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Curtiss JN-4D · all JN-4Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5001 · no longer on the register · serial 5002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING TAKE OFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AT ABOUT 50 FEET AGL. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO LOOSE ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED. THE PILOT BEGAN A LEFT TURN TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN THE LEFT TURN TOWARD THE PILOTS RESIDENCE. TO AVOID HITTING THE HOUSE, THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY SKIDDED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT, STRIKING THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED TWO BOLTS THAT RETAIN THE ROCKER ARM SUPPORT PEDESTAL AND ENGINE COOLANT HOUSING HAD SHEARED. ENGINE COOLANT SPRAYED ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE SPARK PLUG LEADS AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,138 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 6,500 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 580 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 1992; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,976 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Curtis Wright OX5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 23Q at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.
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.