Curtiss JN-4 accident near Riverside, California, August 5, 1987
On August 5, 1987 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Curtiss JN-4, registered N3712, was substantially damaged in an accident near Riverside, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1987 · about 2:20 pm local time · cases in 1987
- Place
- Riverside, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Curtiss JN-4 · all JN-4s on the register
- Registration
- N3712 · registry record · serial 3712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A BUSINESS FLIGHT, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN AREA WHERE DURING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PLT STALLED THE ACFT WHILE STILL SEVERAL FT OFF THE GROUND. THE ACFT RT WING DROPPED AND THE ACFT TURNED RT BEFORE CRASHING IN A CONSTRUCTION SITE PARKING LOT. ACCORDING TO AN ENGINE OVERHAUL FACILITY, THIS ENGINE HAD A COOLANT PUMP LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CARBURETOR. THIS PUMP HAD A HISTORY OF LEAKING, AND WOULD CAUSE A SUBSTANTIAL POWER LOSS WHEN NOT MAINTAINED CORRECTLY. THE LEAKING COOLANT PUMP WOULD INTRODUCE CONTAMINATES THROUGH SEVERAL PORTS IN THE CARBURETOR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 6,370 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Curtis Wright OX-X6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L67 Rubidoux CA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: L66 Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from RAL
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3712 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Curtiss JN-4 13 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Curtiss 20 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Curtis Wright OX-X6 · as the NTSB recorded it
- Pollock Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,761 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX87DUG06.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.