Boeing A75N1 accident near Schellville, California, October 13, 1985
On October 13, 1985 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1, registered N46871, was destroyed in an accident near Schellville, California (Sonoma Valley airport). 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
- October 13, 1985 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Schellville, California · Sonoma Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N46871 · registry record · serial 751724
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING A SLOW ROLL IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPARTING FROM RWY 34 AT THE SONOMA VALLEY ARPT. THE PLT STATED TO WITNESSES THAT HE LIKED TO ROLL HIS ACFT AFTER TAKEOFF. WITNESSES INDICATED THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER A 300 TO 400 FT GROUND ROLL AND ATTAINED AN ALT OF APRX 100 FT AGL AT A 45 DEG CLIMB ANGLE. THE AIRSPEED WAS APRX 85 TO 90 MPH WHEN IT ROLLED TO THE LEFT, FELL OUT OF THE MANEUVER AND STRUCK THE GROUND 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE ROLL. NONE OF THE WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING OR SEEING ANY MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,462 hours in all; 453 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 4,358 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,391 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1985; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W 985-AN3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0Q3 at 10:45 pm
- Destination: 028 Willits CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.