North American SNJ accident near Agoura Hills, California, October 23, 2018
On October 23, 2018 at about 8:44 pm local time, a 1958 North American SNJ, registered N7969C, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Agoura Hills, California. 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
The failure of the No. 5 piston rod end due to fatigue, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2018 · about 8:44 pm local time
- Place
- Agoura Hills, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ 5, built 1958
- Registration
- N7969C · registry record · serial 43974
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, shortly after departure, he heard two loud bangs followed by total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a highway, during which the airplane swerved to the left, the left wing impacted a concrete center divider, and a postimpact fire ensued. Initial examination of the engine found that the No. 2 cylinder was cracked, and the No. 1 cylinder and the base between the Nos. 4 and 5 cylinders displayed damage. Disassembly of the engine revealed the piston-end master rod piece from the No. 5 cylinder fractured through the I-beam shaft. Microscopic examination of the fracture surface showed evidence of fatigue. The initiation point of the fatigue fracture was damaged due to mechanical contact during the failure sequence. The accident is consistent with a total loss of engine power following the failure of the No. 5 master rod end. The initiating point and cause of the fatigue failure could not be identified based on the available evidence.
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 engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,764 hours in all; 382 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,841 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 4,982 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Condor Squadron Officers & Airmens Assoc
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 8:36 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from KVNY, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 19-051 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Exam Notes | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7969C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.