Boeing A75N1 accident near Joshua Tree, California, May 19, 2009
On May 19, 2009, a Boeing A75N1, registered N450JN, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Joshua Tree, California (Roy Williams 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
An in-flight fire in the engine compartment for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2009
- Place
- Joshua Tree, California · Roy Williams Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N450JN · registry record · serial 75-2992
- 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 at the completion of a 1-hour cross-country flight, and while on the downwind leg for landing, he added power and observed flames coming out of the top and right side of the engine's cowling. The pilot initiated a turn towards the runway and landed uneventfully. Fire trucks responded and put out the fire. The pilot, who was an airframe and powerplant mechanic, reported that he had recently installed the engine, a Pratt & Whitney R-985-14B, following a major overhaul. The airplane had flown 3.5 hours since installation of the engine. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed extensive fire damage to the engine and forward part of the airframe, which precluded determination of the reason for the fire.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 2,010 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 6, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 2009; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 11:15 pm
- Destination: L80 Joshua Tree CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from NXP, 9 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.