Piper PA-18A-150 accident near Likely, California, November 27, 1985
On November 27, 1985 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A-150, registered N6878B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Likely, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- November 27, 1985 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Likely, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A-150 · all PA-18A-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6878B · registry record · serial 18-5061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING POWER-OFF FORCED LANDINGS IN AN OPEN, SNOW COVERED FIELD, THE PILOT SAID HE APPLIED THE THROTTLE TO ABORT THE APPROACH BUT THE ENGINE 'SPUTTERED THEN QUIT.' THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE SNOW COVERED FIELD AND FLIPPED OVER. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT 'IT WAS CARBURETOR ICE.' THE CLOSEST OFFICIAL WEATHER REPORTING STATION (4 NM NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE) WAS REPORTING THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT AS 37 AND 32 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 247 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 203 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 886 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 1985; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S57 Likely CA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:40 pm from S11, 4 miles away
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.