I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 accident near Perris, California, July 18, 1987
On July 18, 1987 at about 7:44 pm local time, a I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 (glider), registered N125FD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Perris, California (Perris Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1987 · about 7:44 pm local time
- Place
- Perris, California · Perris Valley
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2
- Registration
- N125FD · registry record · serial 125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TOW PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF, HE FELT THE GLIDER RELEASE AT ABOUT 200' AGL. THE PURPOSE OF THE RELEASE WAS TO PRACTICE A ROPE BREAK. AFTER BEING RELEASED, THE GLIDER MANEUVERED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT, BUT IT HIT A TREE & A POWER LINE BEFORE REACHING THE PLANNED LANDING AREA & CRASHED. THE INSTRUCTOR HAD ONLY 2.4 HRS OF FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,083 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 259 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 1987; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 727 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L65 at 7:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from RAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 LAX87LA272.