Meyers OTW 160 accident near Tehachapi, California, May 26, 2014
On May 26, 2014 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1943 Meyers OTW 160, registered N34341, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Tehachapi, California (Tehachapi 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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent collision with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2014 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Tehachapi, California · Tehachapi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Meyers OTW 160, built 1943 · all OTW 160s on the register
- Registration
- N34341 · registry record · serial 86
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he and his pilot rated passenger were in the pattern doing touch-and-go landings when he decided to demonstrate the procedures for a return to airport simulating a loss of engine power after takeoff (downwind landing). At 400 feet the pilot reduced power to idle and executed a 45-degree right turn back towards the runway. The airplane touched down on the main gear about halfway down the runway and immediately swerved to the left. The pilot applied full right brake and rudder control. The left wheel exited the runway on the north side. The pilot was able to maneuver the airplane back onto the runway and realized that the airplane was heading towards the drainage ditch off the end of the runway. With about 1,000 feet of runway left he applied full power and set best climb attitude, but the airplane was not able to clear the fence at the airport perimeter resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,300 hours in all; 700 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 8, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,146 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 25, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 4,101 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner Co Kinner R-56 (piston); 1,158 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTSP Tehachapi CA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: KTSP Tehachapi CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,041 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from KTSP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.