Piper PA-28-235 accident near Monterey, California, July 17, 1985
On July 17, 1985 at about 7:52 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N15548, was destroyed in an accident near Monterey, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- July 17, 1985 · about 7:52 pm local time
- Place
- Monterey, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N15548 · no longer on the register · serial 7310054
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON A TRAINING FLIGHT TO PRACTICE HOLDING OVER A VOR INTERSECTION 12 MILES OFF SHORE. APPROXIMATELY 12MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF THE PILOT DECLARED 'MAYDAY,ROUGH ENGINE', TO THE MONTEREY,CALFORNIA CONTROL TOWER CONTROL SPECIALIST. THE CONTROL SEPCIALIST OBSERVED THE ACFTS RADAR TARGET VANISH FROM HIS BRITE TUBE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1300 FEET. THE COAST GUARD RECOVERED A FEW PIECES OF DEBRIS FROM THE ACFT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,923 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,609 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 18, 1985; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Monterey Navy Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: MRY Monterey CA at 7:39 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from MRY, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.