Beech A45 accident near Mammoth Lakes, California, September 6, 1987
On September 6, 1987 at about 7:49 pm local time, a Beech A45, registered N34GL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mammoth Lakes, California (Mammoth Lakes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 6, 1987 · about 7:49 pm local time
- Place
- Mammoth Lakes, California · Mammoth Lakes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A45 · all A45s on the register
- Registration
- N34GL · no longer on the register · serial G-733
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AIRSHOW PERFORMANCE, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE MANEUVER THE PLT WAS TO PERFORM WAS A CUBAN EIGHT. THE FIRST HALF OF THE MANEUVER WAS FLOWN CORRECTLY, HOWEVER, DURING THE SECOND HALF OF IT THE ACFT REMAINED IN AN INVERTED POSITION INSTEAD OF ROLLING RIGHT SIDE UP AT THE TOP OF THE LOOP. 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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,252 hours in all; 1,110 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,552 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 18, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-13A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMH Mammoth Lakes CA at 7:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.