Piper PA-28-180 accident near Tucson, Arizona, September 20, 1987
On September 20, 1987 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7896W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Lacholla 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 20, 1987 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Lacholla Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7896W · no longer on the register · serial 1924
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-28-180 COLLIDED WITH A TREE AFTER VEERING OFF RUNWAY 15. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A RIGHT CROSSWIND DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING THEN STRUCK A TREE SEVERING IT FROM THE FUSELAGE. THERE WERE NO UNRESOLVED MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCIES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED AGAINST THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE OFFICIAL WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION LOCATED 20 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THE WINDS FROM 260 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS.
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: 250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ONM Socorro NM at 10:13 pm
- Destination: 40E Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 4,500 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from TUS, 20 miles away
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.