Piper J5A-L4F accident near Kernville, California, February 21, 1994
On February 21, 1994 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Piper J5A-L4F, registered N33029, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kernville, California (Kern Valley airport). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper use of the flight controls resulting in his failure to maintain directional control. The existing crosswind is a factor in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1994 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kernville, California · Kern Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J5A-L4F · all J5A-L4Fs on the register
- Registration
- N33029 · registry record · serial 5-430
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT A 90-DEGREE CROSSWIND EXISTED AT THE TIME. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL AND EXITED THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,231 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1993; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L05
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.