Amateur-built RV14 accident near Palmdale, California, December 5, 2024
On December 5, 2024 at about 9:03 pm local time, a 2020 amateur-built RV14, registered N144SD, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Palmdale, 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 2024 · about 9:03 pm local time
- Place
- Palmdale, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV14 A, built 2020
- Registration
- N144SD · registry record · serial 140196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 15, 2024, about 1303 pacific standard time, an experimental amateur built Vans RV-14, N144SD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Palmdale, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he was in cruise flight at 8,500 ft mean sea level (msl) about 45 minutes after departure when the engine began to “shudder violently,” and lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful and declared an emergency with air traffic control and initiated a forced landing to an open area in the desert. During the landing roll, the airplane struck vegetation, and the landing gear collapsed. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and left wing. The fuel tanks remained intact and contained an adequate quantity of fuel. The engine oil dipstick indicated adequate oil, and the exterior of the engine did not reveal any signs of catastrophic failure. The airplane was retained for further examination.
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 (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 445 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 15, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: KUDD Bermuda Dunes CA at 8:10 pm
- Destination: KCCR Concord CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KPMD, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPMD 052053Z 10SM CLR 21/M08 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP208 T02061078 58023 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.