Beech A65 accident near Coalinca, California, May 8, 1987
On May 8, 1987 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Beech A65, registered N7872R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinca, California (Harris Ranch airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1987 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinca, California · Harris Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A65 · all A65s on the register
- Registration
- N7872R · no longer on the register · serial LC327
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM THE 2,820 FOOT RUNWAY WITH A MAKESHIFT FLIGHT CONTROL GUST LOCK IN PLACE. HE WAS UNABLE TO LIFTOFF WITH THE CONTROLS LOCKED AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE RUNWAY ONTO THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.
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: 7,510 hours in all; 1,420 in this make and model; 7,510 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,033 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1987; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 1Q3 Stratford CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,820 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from NLC, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX87LA203.