Yakovlev YAK-50 accident near Hayward, California, June 7, 2025
On June 7, 2025 at about 7:52 pm local time, a 1982 Yakovlev YAK-50, registered N150YK, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Hayward, California (Hayward Executive Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2025 · about 7:52 pm local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Hayward Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Yakovlev YAK-50, built 1982 · all YAK-50s on the register
- Registration
- N150YK · registry record · serial 822308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 7, 2025, about 1252 Pacific daylight time, a Yakovlev YAK-50, N150YK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hayward, California. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that this was the first flight after the airplane completed an annual inspection. He topped off the fuel tank with about 41 gallons fuel and reported all preflight and engine runup checks were with the operating range. Once cleared for takeoff, the pilot increased engine power and visually checked the instruments, seeing all normal indications. As The airplane ascended, he raised the landing gear, he saw that the propeller was indicating 100% power. The airplane continued to accelerate normally for about 5 to 6 seconds. While about 100 ft above the runway and about 100 knots airspeed, the engine began to run rough. The pilot declared an emergency and the tower controller cleared him to land on any runway. Despite not making any changes to the throttle or propeller, the engine power had degraded to about 80%. The pilot elected to make 180° turn and land on the runway in the opposite direction. While about 90° through the turn, and about 30 ft above ground level, he lowered the landing gear. At that time the engine lost total power. Unable to maintain altitude the pilot leveled the wings and made a forced landing on a grass field. During the landing roll, one of the main landing gear separated and the airplane impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility 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 initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 989.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,182 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: HWD Hayward CA at 7:52 pm
- Destination: WVI Watsonville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 5,694 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 145°F (63°C), dew point 127°F (53°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from HWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
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 WPR25LA171.