Cessna 170A accident near Independence, California, August 12, 1987
On August 12, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N9039A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Independence, California (Independence 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
- August 12, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Independence, California · Independence · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N9039A · registry record · serial 18794
- 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, THE PLT STATED THAT EN ROUTE THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PLT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO TRY AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT A NEARBY AIRPORT, HOWEVER, THE PLT REALIZED THAT HE WOULD BE SHORT OF THE RWY. THE PLT LANDED THE ACFT IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE ACFT BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES THEN NOSED OVER. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REMOVED TO ANOTHER STATE PRIOR TO AN OFFICIAL EXAMINATION. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED.
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: 279 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 228 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1986; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTV Porterville CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: BIH Bishop CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 3,245 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:49 pm from BIH, 34 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.