Piper PA-28-181 accident near Huron, California, July 4, 1987
On July 4, 1987 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8273P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huron, California (Anderson airport). It was a business 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
- July 4, 1987 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Huron, California · Anderson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8273P · registry record · serial 288190049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT,THE PLT APPLIED THE BRAKES ON TOUCH DOWN. THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE PLT APPLIED THE RIGHT BRAKE, HOWEVER, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WENT OFF THE EDGE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT WENT OUT OF CONTROL, EXITED THE RWY AND NOSED OVER. 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: 350 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Trails, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SNS Salinas CA at 6:10 pm
- Destination: Huron CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from NLC, 10 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.