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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1987 · about 2:20 pm local time
- 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX87DUG06.