Piper PA-28-161 accident near Milpitas, California, July 20, 1987
On July 20, 1987 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N91338, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milpitas, California (Reid Hillview airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 20, 1987 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Milpitas, California · Reid Hillview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N91338 · registry record · serial 288616008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING TO CRUISE PLT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FOLLOWED BY 'VIOLENT VIBRATIONS' & A LOSS OF POWER. PLT MADE A FRCD LNDING IN A NEWLY EXCAVATED CONSTRUCTION SITE & WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. INVES REVEALED DEFORMATION OF THE #4 CYLINDER VALVE COVER. #4 EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER ARM WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN. REVIEW OF ACFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT AD 87-10-06 WHICH INCORPORATES LYCOMING SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) 477A WAS ACCOMP 78.7 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE SB REQUIRES ROCKER ARMS THAT DO NOT HAVE A WALL THICKNESS OF.075 BE REPLACED. IF THE ROCKER ARM PASSES THE THICKNESS EXAM THE ROCKER ARM OIL DRIP HOLE OUTER EDGE MUST BE 'BURRED' TO THE APPROX .030 RADIUS PRIOR TO REASSEMBLY. THE ROCKER ARM WAS MEASURED USING A ROUND ANVIL MICROMETER. THE MEASUREMENT MET THE MIN DIMENSION OF .075. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, MET LAB EXAM REVEALED FRACTURE FEATURES OF HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE & OVERSTRESS. THE ORIGIN OF THE FATIGUE WAS TRACED TO THE REWORKED OIL DRIP HOLE WHICH DID NOT MEET .030 RADIUS. THE WALL THICKNESS MEASURED .055 USING A MEASURING MICROSCOPE.
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: 101 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 368 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 17, 1987; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flying Country Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: RHV San Jose CA at 7:20 pm
- Destination: CCR Concord CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from RHV, 8 miles away
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.