Piper PA-28-161 accident near Auberry, California, June 28, 1987
On June 28, 1987 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2856H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Auberry, California (Topham Auberry airport). It was an instructional 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
- June 28, 1987 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Auberry, California · Topham Auberry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2856H · registry record · serial 287916482
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH INTO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, THE STUDENT PILOT TOUCHED-DOWN, THEN DECIDED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE AND ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. ON THE INITIAL CLIMB-OUT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN OBJECT THAT MADE THE AIRCRAFT YAW RIGHT THEN LEFT. THE PILOT NEVER SAW WHAT THE AIRCRAFT HIT. AT CRUISE ALT THE PILOT CHECKED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WHICH APPEARED TO BE OK. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL DEPARTURE POINT WHERE, AFTER LANDING, THE DAMAGE WAS DISCOVERED THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE AIRSTRIP HE HAD PLANNED TO LAND AT WAS 3800 FEET LONG. THE AIRSTRIP, IN FACT, IS 2000 FEET LONG.
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: student
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,132 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 10, 1987; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Navajo Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: New Auberry CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: CCR Concord CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.