Howard DGA 15P accident near Kernville, California, September 30, 2018
On September 30, 2018 at about 3:44 pm local time, a 1943 Howard DGA 15P, registered N9471H, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Kernville, California (Kern Valley 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2018 · about 3:44 pm local time
- Place
- Kernville, California · Kern Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Howard DGA 15P No Series, built 1943
- Registration
- N9471H · no longer on the register · serial 813
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before departure, the pilot selected the main fuel tank, performed an engine run-up and then taxied to the runway. During his subsequent takeoff attempt, the airplane lifted off the ground and transitioned into a climb. As the airplane reached about 50 ft above ground level, the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power. The airplane descended rapidly and impacted the runway, which resulted in a postcrash fire and destroyed most of the airplane except for the engine compartment. Information provided by the airplane type certificate holder indicated that takeoffs were conventionally conducted with the front fuel tank selected for takeoff rather than the main fuel tank. The accident airplane’s operating handbook indicated that takeoff should be conducted with the main tank selected, but documentation indicated that the manufacturer later published guidance requiring takeoffs with the front fuel tank selected due to an unspecified fuel system failure, believed to be the result of a fuel tank un-porting. There was no available information to indicate that this guidance was distributed to the operators of earlier serial number airplanes. The type certificate holder also published anecdotes from pilots who had experienced a loss of engine power during takeoff with the main fuel tank selected when the tank was less than 1/2 full. The accident pilot reported that the main fuel tank may have been less than 3/8 full at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane and an engine test run did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies that could have resulted in a loss of power. Given the available information, it is likely that the engine experienced fuel starvation, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
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
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 7,000 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 6, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,208 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 2018; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R985 AN-14B (piston); 5,683 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L05 Kernville CA at 3:44 pm
- Destination: L45 Bakersfield CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm, 37 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N9471H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR18LA278.