Shafter-Minter Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Shafter, California 93263
Friday, March 22, 1985 15:53 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON HIS 1ST SUPERVISED SOLO FLT. HE REPORTED THAT ON DOWNWIND, THE ACFT WAS TOO HI, SO HE EXTENDED 10 DEG OF FLAPS. ON BASE, HE EXTENDED THE FLAPS TO 20 DEG, & BEFORE TURNING ONTO FINAL APCH, HE FURTHER EXTENDED THEM TO 30 DEG. THE STUDENT THEN REALIZED THE ACFT WAS GETTING TOO LOW, SO HE RETRACTED THE FLAPS. THE ACFT THEN DESCENDED EXTREMELY LOW, COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES APRX 1/2 MI FROM THE RWY & CRASH LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE CHIEF INSTRUCTOR BELIEVED THE STUDENT'S CFI USED IMPROPER METHODS & RELEASED THE STUDENT FOR SOLO BEFORE HE WAS READY. TWO OTHER EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS PROVIDED AN ADDITIONAL 40 HRS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION & DID NOT RE-SOLO THE STUDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/22/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1553
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SHAFTER
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93263
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHAFTER-MINTER FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MIT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 135
Airport Elevation 425
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 598
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 22 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28194
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N67001
NTSB Number LAX85LA184
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15281715
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1353
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name K.L. HOLBERT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4801 BELLE TERRACE, K
Aircraft Owner City BAKERSFIELD
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93309
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR CENTER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2103 AIRPORT DRIVE
Operator City BAKERSFIELD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93308
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1548
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MIT
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 4520
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --