Boeing PT-13D and Cessna 172N accident near Vacaville, California, February 22, 1987
On February 22, 1987 at about 9:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing PT-13D (N620BD) and Cessna 172N (N8070E), were involved in the same accident near Vacaville, California (Nut Tree airport). 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1987 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Vacaville, California · Nut Tree · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing PT-13D · all PT-13Ds on the register
- Registration
- N620BD · registry record · serial 755620
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N8070E · no longer on the register · serial 17272126
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing PT-13D final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WERE IN THE HOLDING AREA SHORT OF RUNWAY 19 AT THE UNCONTROLLED NUT TREE AIRPORT. THE CESSNA PILOT TAXIED INTO POSITION BEHIND LANDING TRAFFIC AND ALLOWED HIS AIRCRAFT TO ROLL SLOWLY FORWARD WHILE WAITING FOR THE LANDING AIRCRAFT TO CLEAR THE RUNWAY. THE CESSNA PILOT STOPPED HIS AIRCRAFT WHEN THE LANDING TRAFFIC CONTINUED TO THE RUNWAY END. MEANWHILE, THE BOEING PILOT TAXIED INTO POSITION AND, AFTER ANNOUNCING HIS INTENTION TO TAKEOFF ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY, COMMENCED HIS TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. THE CESSNA PILOT HEARD ANOTHER AIRCRAFT MAKE A TRANSMISSION BUT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND IT. THE PILOT OF THE BOEING AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING FROM THE REAR SEAT. HE SAID HE SAW THE CESSNA AIRCRAFT AS SOON AS HE RAISED THE TAILWHEEL BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID THE COLLISION.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WERE IN THE HOLDING AREA SHORT OF RUNWAY 19 AT THE UNCONTROLLED NUT TREE AIRPORT. THE CESSNA PILOT TAXIED INTO POSITION BEHIND LANDING TRAFFIC AND ALLOWED HIS AIRCRAFT TO ROLL SLOWLY FORWARD WHILE WAITING FOR THE LANDING AIRCRAFT TO CLEAR THE RUNWAY. THE CESSNA PILOT STOPPED HIS AIRCRAFT WHEN THE LANDING TRAFFIC CONTINUED TO THE RUNWAY END. MEANWHILE, THE BOEING PILOT TAXIED INTO POSITION AND, AFTER ANNOUNCEING HIS INTENTION TO TAKEOFF ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY, COMMENCED HIS TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA HEARD ANOTHER AIRCRAFT MAKE A RADIO TRANSMISSION BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IT. THE PILOT OF THE BOEING AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING FROM THE REAR SEAT. HE SAID HE SAW THE CESSNA AIRCRAFT AS SOON AS HE RAISED THE TAILWHEEL BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID THE COLLISION.
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 for the Boeing PT-13D from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,384 hours in all; 420 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 2,284 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172N 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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,518 hours in all; 1,590 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 3,268 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Other NTSB records under N620BD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX87LA122.