Piper PA-24-250 accident near Catalina, California, April 20, 1987
On April 20, 1987 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5596P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Catalina, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 20, 1987 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Catalina, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5596P · no longer on the register · serial 24-663
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT STATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE ACFT BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY WITH THE ENGINE DEVELOPING PARTIAL POWER. THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB AND THE PLT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN 100 FPM DESCENT. UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE ARPT, THE PLT DITCHED THE ACFT IN THE OCEAN. INSPECTION OF THE PROPELLER BLADES EXHIBITED LEADING EDGE DAMAGE ALONG THE OUTBOARD 4-5 INCHES WITH SOME POLISHING OF THE CAMBERED SIDE. ONE BLADE WAS BENT FORWARD AND MISSING APRX 4 INCHES OF THE TIP. APRX ONE INCH FURTHER WAS A GOUGE ON THE LEADING EDGE. THE OTHER BLADE WAS BENT REARWARD. ON THE LEADING EDGE APRX 4 INCHES FROM THE TIP WAS A GOUGE AND CRACK APRX ONE INCH LONG. THE ENGINE CONTAINED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CORROSION FROM BEING IN CONTACT WITH SALT WATER. NO OTHER MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTIONS COULD BE NOTED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 275 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,819 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 17, 1986; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVX Catalina CA at 1:45 am
- Destination: TOA Torrance CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 am from LGB, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.