Piper PA-28-160 accident near Redlands, California, March 1, 1987
On March 1, 1987 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5466W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 1, 1987 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5466W · no longer on the register · serial 28-547
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE CROSS-COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS DESCENDING FROM 8500 FT MSL TO 4000 FT MSL WITH POWER REDUCED TO 2000 RPM. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DID NOT USE THE CARBURETOR HEAT WHILE DESCENDING. WHEN PWR WAS ADDED, THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. THE PLT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD WHERE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE TEMP WAS 66 DEGS F AND DEW POINT WAS 37 DEGS F. FROM THE FAA CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART, THE ACFT WAS OPERATING IN A SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER RANGE.
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: 200 hours in all; 160 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,771 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 1986; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHV Mojavo CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: L12 Redlands CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from SBD, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.