Boeing N25-3 accident near Van Nuys, California, July 7, 1986
On July 7, 1986 at about 2:10 am local time, a Boeing N25-3, registered N5106N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- July 7, 1986 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing N25-3
- Registration
- N5106N · registry record · serial 75-7923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BOEING N2S-3 NOSED OVER ON LANDING WHILE ON A LOCAL VFR FLIGHT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HAD LOGGED A TOTAL OF 2.4 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT ALL WITHIN THE PREVIOUS NINETY DAYS. THE PILOT STATED THAT ON HIS LAST APPROACH, THE SPEED WAS TOO FAST, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND HE OVERCONTROLLED CAUSING THE PROPELLER TO STRIKE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST ON IT'S BACK. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS 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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,226 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 1,055 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1986; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,717 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental WR-670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 1:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:01 am from VNY
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.