Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 4, 1993 · Piper PA-24-250 · N5523P

Hesperia, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 4, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Hesperia, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N5523P
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX93LA342

THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN A BOWL SHAPED DEPRESSION AND IS SURROUNDED BY TREES ON ALL SIDES. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND A DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT SAID THAT EVEN WITH THE APPLICATION OF FULL POWER HE WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT PRIOR TO THE LANDING GEAR COLLIDING WITH THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER WAS ON BOARD AS A PASSENGER. THE OWNER AND THE SECOND PASSENGER STATED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH THE AIR WAS VERY TURBULENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED BELOW THE TOPS OF THE TREES WHICH SURROUND THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR CAUSED BY THE TREES. THE CLOSEST OFFICIAL WEATHER REPORTING STATION IS LOCATED 49 MILES NORTH WEST OF THE AIRPORT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE STATION WAS REPORTING WINDS FROM 240 DEGREES AT 18 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 27 KNOTS.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE AIRCRAFT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.

Full Narrative

On September 4, 1993, at 1405 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N5523P, collided with a boundary fence while landing at the Hesperia, California, airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the two passengers were not injured. The flight originated at El Monte, California, on the day of the mishap, at 1330 hours as a personal cross country flight. The Hesperia airport is located in a bowl shaped depression and is surrounded by trees on all sides. In his statement, the pilot said that he was on short final approach when the aircraft encountered turbulence and a down draft. The pilot said that even with the application of full power, he was unable to arrest the descent prior to the landing gear colliding with the airport boundary fence. The aircraft owner was on board as a passenger. The owner and the second passenger stated that on final approach the air was very turbulent, especially when the aircraft descended below the tops of the trees which surround the airport. The aircraft owner stated that he thought the aircraft encountered a low level wind shear caused by the trees. The closest official weather reporting station is Edwards AFB, which is located 49 miles north west of the Hesperia airport. At the time of the accident, Edwards was reporting winds from 240 degrees at 18 knots, with gusts to 27 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:05 PDT
Nearest AirportHESPERIA (0nm)
Runway21
Runway Length3900 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN5523P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1D5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 64 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 18 kt, gusting 27 kt
Visibility45 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point43 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data