Culver CADET LFA accident near Antioch, California, March 24, 1987
On March 24, 1987, a Culver CADET LFA, registered N37838, was destroyed in an accident near Antioch, California (Antioch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- March 24, 1987
- Place
- Antioch, California · Antioch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Culver CADET LFA
- Registration
- N37838 · no longer on the register · serial 342
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL PLEASURE FLT, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT TAKE-OFF INTO A HEADWIND. AT APRX 1000 FT AGL, THE NOSE OF THE ACFT CAME UP THEN DOWN. THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIN AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE PROPELLER APPEARED TO BE SLOWING DOWN. THE ACFT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE AFTER IMPACT. DUE TO THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED FROM THE IMPACT AND FIRE, IT WAS NOT DETERMINED IF THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,305 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 4AC-176 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 012 Antioch CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,480 ft by 33 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.