Cessna 140 accident near Gorman, California, September 3, 1987
On September 3, 1987 at about 9:07 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N224MK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gorman, California (Quail Lake Skypark airport). 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
- September 3, 1987 · about 9:07 pm local time
- Place
- Gorman, California · Quail Lake Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N224MK · registry record · serial 13327
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 140 NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL AFTER A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO A PAVED ACCESS ROAD. THE PLT INDICATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE AND OIL TEMP BEGAN TO DROP FOR UNKNOWN REASONS WHILE IN CRUISE FLT. THE PLT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE WIND DIRECTION AND DECIDED TO LAND TO THE SW ON THE ROAD. ACCORDING TO THE PLT THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A RIGHT REAR QUARTERING 'CROSSWIND' DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WINDS TO BE FROM THE NNE AT 10 KTS GUSTING TO 15 KTS. THE ACFT WEATHERVANED INTO THE WIND AND NOSED OVER IN THE SOFT SHOULDER OF THE ACCESS ROAD. THE ACFT WAS EXAMINED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING BASED ON THE OIL COVERED BELLY OF THE ACFT. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXAMINED AND IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN OIL LEAK AND THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE ENGINE COWLING WAS DRY. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WOBBLE TYPE QUICK DRAIN OF UNKNOWN VINTAGE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 810 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 666 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 27, 1987; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 7:40 pm
- Destination: PTB Porterville CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:00 pm from PMD
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.