Beech C-45H accident near Auburn, California, August 11, 1987
On August 11, 1987 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech C-45H, registered N105DK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Auburn, California (Auburn Muni airport). It was a ferry 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
- August 11, 1987 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, California · Auburn Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-45H · all C-45Hs on the register
- Registration
- N105DK · no longer on the register · serial 5210620
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AFTER A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT. ATTEMPTED BRAKING ACTION WAS INEFFECTIVE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD A HISTORY OF BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE ACFT HAD BEEN GROUND LOOPED TWICE PREVIOUSLY. MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE AIRCRAFT BRAKE SYSTEM TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS EXAMINED AND THE LEFT BRAKE WAS DETERMINED TO BE DRAGGING. THE DITCH WAS WITHIN THE RUNWAY SAFETY AREA. THE AIRPORT IS AFFECTED BY A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. UNDER THE FEDERAL GRANT AGREEMENTS THE MUNICIPALITY MUST MAINTAIN THE AIRPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES, STANDARDS, AND SPECIFICATIONS FOUND IN ADVISORY CIRCULARS. AC 150/5300-4B STATES THE RUNWAY SAFETY AREA SHOULD BE CAPABLE TO SUPPORTING THE OCCASIONAL PASSAGE OF AIRCRAFT WITHOUT CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,567 hours in all; 527 in this make and model; 178 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,907 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 20, 1987; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVL S. Lake Tahoe CA at 9:00 am
- Destination: AUN Auburn CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.