Cessna TU206B accident near Temecula, California, April 22, 1987
On April 22, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna TU206B, registered N3835G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Temecula, California (Temecula airport). It was a business 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
- April 22, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Temecula, California · Temecula
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206B · all TU206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3835G · no longer on the register · serial U206-0835
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL SURVEY FLIGHT, WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE ARPT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH THEN QUIT. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO LAND THE ACFT AT THE ARPT, THEREFORE, A NEARBY DIRT ROAD WAS SELECTED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED FROM HIGH CYLE FATIGUE LOADING WHICH STARTED ON THE OUTSIDE OF ONE OF THE JOURNALS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,366 hours in all; 6,978 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 7,171 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,178 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 1987; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Arial Services
The flight
- Departed from: CCB Upland CA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 2L0 Temecula CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,023 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from RAL, 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.