Amateur-built WITTMAN TA accident near Yucca Valley, California, January 16, 2009
On January 16, 2009 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built WITTMAN TA, registered N90086, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Yucca Valley, California (Yucca Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of directional control due to a weld joint failure of the left rudder pedal.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2009 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yucca Valley, California · Yucca Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built WITTMAN TA
- Registration
- N90086 · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing roll on the asphalt runway, the left rudder pedal separated and he was unable to maintain directional control. Subsequently, the airplane ground-looped and exited the right side of the runway. The fuselage and left wing were structurally damaged. The left rudder pedal was separated at its weld point. No further anomalies were noted with the flight control 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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 299 hours in all; 159 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 17, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HJO Hanford CA at 8:20 pm
- Destination: L22 Yucca Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,363 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from NXP, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.