Cessna 182D accident near San Ramon, California, September 26, 1987
On September 26, 1987 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Cessna 182D, registered N8711X, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Ramon, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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 26, 1987 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- San Ramon, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182D · all 182Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8711X · registry record · serial 18253111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TELLING THE LINEMAN AT CALEXICO, CA TO FILL THE TANKS, THE PLT WALKED AWAY FROM THE ACFT TO CLEAR CUSTOMS. WHEN HE RETURNED, HE LOADED HIS PASSENGERS INTO THE ACFT AND DEPARTED THE ARPT. AFTER FLYING 3 AND 1/2 HOURS THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE ACFT WAS FORCE LANDED ONTO A GOLF COURSE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AGAINST A BARBED WIRE FENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED THEY WERE BOTH EMPTY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,003 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 855 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,677 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1986; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXL Calexico CA at 7:05 pm
- Destination: 069 Petaluma CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.