Cessna 172P and Beech V35B mid-air collision near Glendale, California, August 26, 1985
On August 26, 1985 at about 1:53 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172P (N62868) and Beech V35B (N40RD), were involved in a mid-air collision near Glendale, California (Burbank airport). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. 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
- August 26, 1985 · about 1:53 am local time
- Place
- Glendale, California · Burbank
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N62868 · no longer on the register · serial 17275344
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N40RD · registry record · serial D-9581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172P final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE ACFT DEPARTED AN ARPT CONTROL ZONE, WHILE ON AN IFR FLIGHT AND UNDER THE CONTROL OF A TRACON FACILITY, THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PLT OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC AT 1 O'CLOCK AND 2 1/2 MILES. WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE ACFT THE PLT OBSERVED AN ACFT ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH HER AT HER 9 TO 10 O'CLOCK POSITION. SHE SAID SHE MADE A DIVING RIGHT TURN AND THE OTHER ACFTS WING TIP SEVERED THE LEFT STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR FROM HER ACFT. AFTER TWO UNSUCESSFUL ATTEMPTSTO LAND THE ACFT, THE PLT WAS ABLE TO LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech V35B final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE ACFT APPROACHED ITS HOME ARPT, ON A WESTERLY HEADING AND LOOKING INTO THE SUN, THE PLT BEGAN THE DESCENT. THE ACFT'S LEFT WING SEVERED THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR FROM AN APPROACHING ACFT. THE PLT CONTINUED HIS APPROACH AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 for the Cessna 172P from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 561 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 472 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 527 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1985; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRY Monterey CA
- Destination: SNA Santa Ana CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:05 am from BUR, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
The factual record for the Beech V35B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 711 hours in all; 487 in this make and model; 139 in the last 90 days; 679 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,161 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L35 Big Bear CA at 1:20 am
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.