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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.

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July 8, 1985 · Polliwagen · N81PW

Bakersfield, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 8, 1985
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Bakersfield, CA
Aircraft
Polliwagen
Tail Number
N81PW
Operator
Polliwagen
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX85FA310

On July 7, 1985, at 1917 PDT, a Polliwagen, N81PW, collided with the ground during an attempted go around at Bakersfield Airpark, Bakersfield, California, while on a personal flight. VMC prevailed at the time; no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed. The private pilot and his passenger received fatal injuries. The flight originated at Fresno, California, at about 1800 PDT. A witness stated that the aircraft made a normal approach to runway 30 and when it was 10 to 15 feet above the ground, the pilot added power to make a go around. The aircraft reportedly climbed to about 100 to 150 feet AGL. The witness lost sight of the aircraft at that time but stated that he heard the engine backfire 2 or 3 times and then he heard the impact. The aircraft came to rest adjacent to an FAA hangar. There was no damage to the aircraft inside the hangar. However, the aircraft burned and a Dempsey dumpster and an unoccupied parked automobile were damaged by fire.

Full Narrative

ON JULY 7, 1985, AT 1917 PDT, A POLLIWAGEN, N81PW, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO AROUND AT BAKERSFIELDAIRPARK, BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VMC PREVAILED AT THE TIME; NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, AT ABOUT 1800 PDT. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT MADE A NORMAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30 AND WHEN IT WAS 10 TO 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO MAKE A GO AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT REPORTEDLY CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 TO 150 FEET AGL. THE WITNESS LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THAT TIME BUT STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE BACKFIRE 2 OR 3 TIMES AND THEN HEARD THE IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ADJACENT TO AN FAA HANGAR. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT INSIDE THE HANGAR. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT BURNED AND A DEMPSEY DUMSPSTER AND AN UNOCCUPIED PARKED AUTOMOBILE WERE DAMAGED BY FIRE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:17 PDT
Nearest AirportBakers Field Airpark (0nm N)
Runway31
Runway Length3150 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPolliwagen
Tail NumberN81PW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPolliwagen
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-C · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 10 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data