Cessna 305A (L-19) accident near Jean, Nevada, February 14, 1988
On February 14, 1988 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Cessna 305A (L-19), registered N5173G, was destroyed in an accident near Jean, Nevada (Jean airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1988 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · Jean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A (L-19) 305A (L-19 · all 305A (L-19)s on the register
- Registration
- N5173G · no longer on the register · serial 21547
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED ACFT ENTER 45 DEG CLIMB ATTITUDE ON LIFTOFF, CLIMB TO ABOUT 200 FT AGL, THEN ENTER LEFT TURN. ACFT APPEARED TO STALL, WING DROPPED AND NOSE FELL THROUGH TO IMPACT 100 YDS LEFT OF RUNWAY. FLAPS FOUND SET AT 60 DEG VS. MAX 30 DEG SETTING SPECIFIED ON COCKPIT PLACARD. ACCOMPANYING ACFT WITNESS STATED PREVIOUS TAKEOFF THAT DAY ALSO EXECUTED WITH 60 DEG FLAPS. NO EVIDENCE FOUND OF PRE-IMPACT MALF OR FAILURE IN ACFT STRUCTURE, POWERPLANT OR SYSTEMS.
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: 2,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 455 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DAG Barstow/Daggett CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,545 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from LAS, 21 miles away
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.