Beech H35 accident near Avenal, California, September 9, 1987
On September 9, 1987, a Beech H35, registered N7962D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Avenal, California (Avenal 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
- September 9, 1987
- Place
- Avenal, California · Avenal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N7962D · no longer on the register · serial D5221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS READING LOW. THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO LAND AT A NEARBY AIRPORT. EN ROUTE THE OIL PRESSURE CONTINUED TO DROP. DURING THE FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS 'TOO HIGH' AND DECIDED TO GO-AROUND. ON THE SECOND APPROACH, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO OIL LEAKAGE OF SPILLS. THERE WERE NO OTHER 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,705 hours in all; 1,266 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,596 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,852 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 2, 1987; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 102 Lakeport CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,880 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:48 pm from PRB, 30 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.