Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Calexico, California, April 6, 1987
On April 6, 1987, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N3085R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calexico, California (Calexico 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
- April 6, 1987
- Place
- Calexico, California · Calexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N3085R · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35644
- 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 FLIGHT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT UPON LANDING, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, THE PLT CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT. THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT AGAIN AND THE PLT CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT. THE ACFT THEN BEGAN TO TURN IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION WHEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. INSPECTION OF THE LANDING SIGHT AND ACFT SHOWED TRACEABLE SIGNATURES WERE LEFT BY BOTH MAIN TIRES ON THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS COLLAPSED INWARD. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED FROM ITS TRUNNION FITTING, AND WAS PULLED OUT TOWARD THE RIGHT WING TIP. LATERAL STRESSES WERE SUCH ON THE NOSE GEAR THAT IT WAS BENT SIDEWAYS TO THE RIGHT.
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: 176 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,891 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1987; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-CIC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MXL Mexicali at 11:45 pm
- Destination: CXL Calexico CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 4,330 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from IPL, 10 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.