Cessna 182P and Piper PA-28-181 mid-air collision near Sacramento, California, October 25, 1985
On October 25, 1985 at about 9:41 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 182P (N7371S) and Piper PA-28-181 (N43091), were involved in a mid-air collision near Sacramento, California. No one was hurt; 3 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
- October 25, 1985 · about 9:41 pm local time
- Place
- Sacramento, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N7371S · registry record · serial 18265162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N43091 · registry record · serial 288390076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182P final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE CESSNA 182P PILOT FLEW THROUGH A CONTROL ZONE WITHOUT ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATIONS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 3,500 FT, A PIPER PA28 WAS BEGINNING ITS APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE PIPER'S PILOT WAS PRACTICING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT USING A HOOD AND A SAFETY PILOT. THE PIPER WAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE LOCAL TRACON FACILITY AND CLEARED TO DESCEND OUT OF 5,500 FEET TO 2,600 FOR SEQUENCING. ONE MINUTE AFTER THE PIPER BEGAN ITS DESCENT THE SAFETY PILOT REPORTED THAT THEY HAD COLLIDED WITH AN OTHER 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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-181 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE CESSNA 182P PILOT FLEW THROUGH A CONTROL ZONE WITHOUT ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATIONS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 3,500 FT, A PIPER PA28 WAS BEGINNING ITS APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE PIPER'S PILOT WAS PRACTICING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT USING A HOOD AND A SAFETY PILOT. THE PIPER WAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE LOCAL TRACON FACILITY AND CLEARED TO DESCEND OUT OF 5,500 FEET TO 2,600 FOR SEQUENCING. ONE MINUTE AFTER THE PIPER BEGAN ITS DESCENT THE SAFETY PILOT REPORTED THAT THEY HAD COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER 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 for the Cessna 182P from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,720 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,620 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O470S (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tel-Accounts, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CA35 San Rafael CA at 8:10 pm
- Destination: 061 Cameron Park CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from SAC, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-181 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 722 hours in all; 193 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 620 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,038 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 1985; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O360A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: SAC Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.