Cessna 182A accident near Strathmore, California, July 24, 1987
On July 24, 1987 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N3884D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Strathmore, California (Eckert Field). It was a personal 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
- July 24, 1987 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Strathmore, California · Eckert Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N3884D · registry record · serial 34584
- 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 FLIGHT, UPON LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED-DOWN APPROX 500 FT FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY. THE PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE ACFT WHEN HE STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE RUNWAY ON WHICH THE ACFT LANDED IS APPROX 2000 FT LONG. DENSITY ALTITUDE FOR THAT DAY WAS COMPUTED TO BE 2000 FT, WITH A TEMP OF 81 DEGREES. AS STATED IN THE CESSNA OPERATION MANUAL, THIS ACFT REQUIRES APPROX 1375 FT OF GROUND ROLL, WITH 40 DEGREES OF FLAPS, AND A STANDARD TEMP OF 59 DEGRESS. THE ACFT WAS LANDED WITH NO FLAPS EXTENDED. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED.
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: 87 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VIS Visalia CA at 6:29 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,000 ft by 260 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from NLC, 45 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.