Cessna L19 - A accident near Firebaugh, California, June 25, 2014
On June 25, 2014 at about 3:15 am local time, a 1950 Cessna L19 - A, registered N5264G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Firebaugh, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions in the landing area, which resulted in a loss of directional control and encounter with soft terrain and vegetation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2014 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Firebaugh, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna L19 - A, built 1950 · all L19 - As on the register
- Registration
- N5264G · registry record · serial 21093
- 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 while in cruise flight, he noticed that the engine temperature had risen above the normal operating range, and he felt that the engine was developing less power. He elected to make a precautionary landing on a flat grassy area. The crosswind was stronger and gustier than he expected and the airplane encountered a gust at touchdown, which placed the airplane off center of the touchdown point. He added power to go-around, however, he was unable to establish a climb as the airplane became unstable in the sand and bushes. The airplane subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings. Other than the elevated engine temperature, the pilot noted no other mechanical malfunctions or failures with the 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WVI Watsonville CA at 2:15 am
- Destination: O26 Lone Pine CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from KMAE, 19 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.