Beech C35 accident near Vacaville, California, April 13, 1987
On April 13, 1987, a Beech C35, registered N271F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vacaville, California (Vacaville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 13, 1987
- Place
- Vacaville, California · Vacaville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N271F · registry record · serial D-3040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED HE HAD FLOWN THE ACFT THE DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK ONLY. NO FUEL HAD BEEN ADDED ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE PLT STATED THAT THE LEFT TANK WAS THREE QUARTERS FULL AND THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL. THE PLT POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND JUST AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 200 FT, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. A FUEL LINE WAS BROKEN ON IMPACT AND THE EXACT AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD IS UNKNOWN. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 937 hours in all; 206 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,586 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 27, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 045 Vacaville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 am from SUU, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.