Piper PA-28-161 accident near Malibu, California, April 10, 1987
On April 10, 1987 at about 4:11 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N4304F, was destroyed in an accident near Malibu, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- April 10, 1987 · about 4:11 am local time
- Place
- Malibu, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4304F · no longer on the register · serial 288316071
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & HIS 3 PASSENGERS MET AT A BAR THEN DECIDED TO GO ON A LOCAL NIGHT SCENIC FLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE OCEAN AS THE PLT WAS DEMONSTRATING LOW FLT OVER THE WATER. THE PLT & 1 PASSENGER WERE HOSPITALIZED & TREATED FOR INJURIES & HYPOTHERMIA. THE OTHER 2 PASSENGERS DIED FROM DROWNING. THE SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID THAT BEFORE THE FLT, SHE OBSERVED THE PLT CONSUME 'ONE CORONA' AFTER SHE ARRIVED AT THE BAR. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.02%.
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: 122 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 94 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,760 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 26, 1987; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,447 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from SMD, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.