Ryan ST-A accident near Mariposa, California, May 30, 1987
On May 30, 1987 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Ryan ST-A, registered N14954, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mariposa, California (Mariposayosemite 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
- May 30, 1987 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mariposa, California · Mariposayosemite · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST-A
- Registration
- N14954 · registry record · serial N110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE START OF A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE ACFT STARTED TO VEER TO THE LEFT. THE PLT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER TO CORRECT, HOWEVER, THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND BEFORE THE LEFT MAIN LEFT THE EDGE OF THE RWY AND DUG IN THE SOFT DIRT FORCING THE ACFT TO TURN FURTHER TO THE LEFT. THE PLT CHOSE TO ABORT THE TAKE-OFF AND CLOSED THE THROTTLE. THE ACFT THEN COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BERM AT APRX 40 MPH AND NOSED OVER. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT WAS TAKING-OFF ON RWY 26, WITH THE WIND FROM 250 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS.
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: 997 hours in all; 460 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 967 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,146 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1987; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Menasco D-4-87 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,310 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.