Piper PA-24-250 accident near Hesperia, California, September 4, 1993
On September 4, 1993 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5523P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hesperia, California (Hesperia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE AIRCRAFT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1993 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Hesperia, California · Hesperia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5523P · registry record · serial 24-586
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN A BOWL SHAPED DEPRESSION AND IS SURROUNDED BY TREES ON ALL SIDES. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND A DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT SAID THAT EVEN WITH THE APPLICATION OF FULL POWER HE WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT PRIOR TO THE LANDING GEAR COLLIDING WITH THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER WAS ON BOARD AS A PASSENGER. THE OWNER AND THE SECOND PASSENGER STATED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH THE AIR WAS VERY TURBULENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED BELOW THE TOPS OF THE TREES WHICH SURROUND THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR CAUSED BY THE TREES. THE CLOSEST OFFICIAL WEATHER REPORTING STATION IS LOCATED 49 MILES NORTH WEST OF THE AIRPORT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE STATION WAS REPORTING WINDS FROM 240 DEGREES AT 18 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 27 KNOTS.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,145 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1992; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 18 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.