Beech C23 accident near Brownsville, California, June 27, 1987
On June 27, 1987 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N5161M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownsville, California (Brownsville 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
- June 27, 1987 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Brownsville, California · Brownsville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N5161M · registry record · serial M2039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT OVER FLEW THE RWY ONCE FOR A VISUAL WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION CHECK. DURING THE FIRST APPROACH THE ACFT WAS TOO HIGH SO THE PLT WENT AROUND. ON THE SECOND APPROACH, DURING THE FLARE, THE ACFT STAYED AIRBORNE DOWN MOST OF THE RWY. WHEN THE ACFT DID TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT REALIZED THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT RWY LEFT TO STOP THE ACFT, THEREFORE, THE PLT MADE A FAST TURN ONTO A TAXI-WAY. DURING THE TURN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN A NOSE DOWN CONFIGURATION. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 829 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 143 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 1986; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AYK (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 4:15 pm
- Destination: Q21 Brownsville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,550 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°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.