Beech C-55 accident near Salton City, California, August 23, 1987
On August 23, 1987 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Beech C-55, registered N3784Q, was destroyed in an accident near Salton City, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INABILITY TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER IT ENTERED A SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1987 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Salton City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-55
- Registration
- N3784Q · no longer on the register · serial TE356
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT AT A LOW ALTITUDE, CLIMBING, WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. HE STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE SOUNDS DECREASE AND OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ROLL OVER INTO A SPIN. THE WITNESS SAID THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED INVERTED DURING ONE SPINNING TURN BUT RETURNED TO AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN. EXAM OF THE PROPELLERS INDICATED THAT THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED. EXAM OF THE ENGINES DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTIONS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,714 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1987; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from TRM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.