Aerospatiale TB20 accident near Van Nuys, California, May 17, 1986
On May 17, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale TB20, registered N67TTB, was destroyed in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys 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
- May 17, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale TB20
- Registration
- N67TTB · no longer on the register · serial 535
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RWY 16L THE LIGHT ACFT PLT WAS CAUTIONED ABOUT POSSIBLE WAKE TURBULENCE FROM AN ARRIVING C-130 HERCULES ACFT LANDING ON RWY 16R. THE LIGHT ACFT PLT ACKNOWLEDGED OBSERVING THE C-130, WHICH WAS ABOVE HIM. THE C-130 LANDED ON RWY 16R WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN THE LIGHT ACFT WAS ABOUT 1/4 MILE NORTH OF THE ARPT IT ENCOUNTERED THE C-130'S VORTEX WHICH CAUSED IT TO ROLL OVER INVERTED AND CRASH. THE LIGHT ACFT PLT FAILED TO ADHERE TO THE WARNING GIVEN BY ATC AND HE FAILED TO ADHERE TO THE ESTABLISHED VORTEX AVOIDANCE PROCEDURES WRITTEN IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 73 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1986; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,943 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4D5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Van Nuys Aero Club, INC
The flight
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16L, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 pm from VNY, 1 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.