Piper PA-24-250 accident near Jamestown, California, March 18, 1987
On March 18, 1987 at about 6:40 am local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5393P, was destroyed in an accident near Jamestown, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 18, 1987 · about 6:40 am local time
- Place
- Jamestown, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5393P · no longer on the register · serial 24-444
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE ACCIDENT ACFT, IN COMPANY WITH 2 OTHERS, WAS TRYING TO LAND AT THE DEST AIRPORT IN HILLY TERRAIN. AS THE 3 ACFT APPROACHED THE AIRPORT THEY ENCOUNTERED BKN TO OVRCST CONDITIONS OF ABOUT 400 FT AGL AND VIS OF 2 MI IN RAIN. THE FIRST 2 ACFT LANDED SAFELY, BUT THE ACCIDENT ACFT MADE A GO AROUND BECAUSE THE PLT SAID VIA RADIO THAT HE 'LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY AFTER ENTERING A CLOUD.' ON THE RADIO, THE PLT SAID THAT HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS, FOLLOWED BY A REMARK 'THERE'S THE MOON.' OVER THE RADIO, THE PLT TOLD THE OTHER PLTS THAT HE WAS GOING TO A NEARBY AIRPORT TO WAIT FOR BETTER WX. GND WITNESS HEARD THE ACFT CIRCLING SEVERAL TIMES IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE BEFORE HEARING SOUNDS OF IMPACT. EXAM OF THE SITE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT STRUCK A LARGE PINE TREE NEAR THE TOP WITH ITS RIGHT WING. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A STEEP INVERTED NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE EXTENDED WRECKAGE BEARING WAS ALIGNED WITH THE DEST AIRPORT, WHICH WAS 8 MI AWAY.
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: 1,300 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,109 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 5:48 am
- Destination: O22 Columbia CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.