Boeing A75 accident near Angels Camp, California, May 10, 1986
On May 10, 1986 at about 11:24 pm local time, a Boeing A75, registered N56760, was destroyed in an accident near Angels Camp, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 10, 1986 · about 11:24 pm local time
- Place
- Angels Camp, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75 · all A75s on the register
- Registration
- N56760 · registry record · serial 75-017
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
NUMEROUS GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FLY LOW ALONG THE RIVER WHICH FED INTO THE NEW MELONIES RESERVOIR LAKE AND THEN COLLIDE WITH UNMARKED HIGH TENSION POWER LINES WHICH SPANNED A NARROW PORTION OF THE LAKE. THE PILOT THOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT APRX 500 FT ABOVE THE WATER WHEN IT STRUCK THE POWER LINES. THE ELECTRIC COMPANY'S RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE POWER LINES SPANNED 4007 FT ACROSS THE LAKE BETWEEN TWO STEEL TOWERS. AT THE LOWEST DROOP, THE LINES MEASURED 194 FT ABOVE THE RECORDED HIGH WATER MARK OF THE LAKE. ACCORDING TO THE US DEPT OF INTERIOR, THE LAKE LEVEL ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS RECORDED AT 1061.84 FT MSL, AND THE HIGH WATER MARK FOR THE LAKE WAS 1088 FT MSL.
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: 4,150 hours in all; 244 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,825 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,907 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1985; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming R-680 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 022 Columbia CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from SCK, 46 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.
Other NTSB records under N56760 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.