Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Monterey, California, July 24, 1987
On July 24, 1987 at about 5:11 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N82793, was destroyed in an accident near Monterey, California (Monterey Peninsula airport). 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
LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, BY THE PILOT, WHILE EXCUTING A MISSED APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1987 · about 5:11 pm local time · cases in 1987
- Place
- Monterey, California · Monterey Peninsula · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N82793 · registry record · serial 32R8129001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS RADAR VECTORED TO THE FINAL APPROACH FOR AN ILS LANDING. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE FINAL APPROACH FIX THE CONTROLLER CLEARED THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE APPROACH AND INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO CONTACT THE TOWER. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE INSTRUCTION THEN STATED THAT HE WAS STARTING A GO-AROUND. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER THERE WAS AN UNINTELLIGIBLE RADIO TRANSMISSION FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS FOLLOWED BY A CALL FROM THE PILOT STATING, 'SEVEN NINER THREE IN TROUBLE'. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS FOLLOWED 16 SECONDS LATER BY, 'I HAVE I HAVE AN EMERGENCY BACK HERE'. THE CONTROLLER HAD NOTICED AN ASCENT 400 FEET ABOVE THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE THEN THE RADAR WENT INTO COAST. A WITNESS IN A BOAT IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT DIVE OUT OF A CLOUD AND COLLIDE WITH THE WATER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 528 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 708 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1987; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 3:32 pm
- Destination: MRY Monterey CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10, 6,597 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from MRY, 10 miles away
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N82793 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga 3,916 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,838 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540-S1AD 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Monterey Regional · nearest airport
- Van Nuys Airport · departed from
- 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/LAX87FA281.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.