Cessna 172P accident near Santa Paula, California, March 30, 1987
On March 30, 1987 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N6339K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Paula, California (Santa Paula airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 30, 1987 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Santa Paula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N6339K · registry record · serial 17274185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A PLEASURE CROSS COUNTRY FLT THE PLT PRIOR TO ENTERING THE PATTERN NOTED THE WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED AS 060 DEGS AT APRX 16 KTS. THE PLT THEN ENTERED THE PATTERN FOR RWY 4. ON FINAL APCH THE PLT HAD TO SLIP THE ACFT TO KEEP ALLIGNED WITH THE RWY. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE RWY FIRST THEN THE LEFT. APRX 300 FT DOWN THE RWY THE ACFT EXITED THE RWY TO THE LEFT. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT WHICH WAS HEADING FOR A HANGAR APRX 300 FT AHEAD. THE PLT ADDED PWR AND BECAME AIRBORNE. THE LEFT WING THEN COLLIDED WITH THE HANGAR AT APRX 18 FT AGL. THE PLANE THEN COLLIDED WITH A PARKED CAR AND CAME TO REST NEXT TO THE HANGAR.
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: 223 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 188 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 14, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,650 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:49 pm from OXR, 15 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.