Cessna 441 accident near Mexicali, Mx, November 16, 1987
On November 16, 1987 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 441, registered N2484B, was destroyed in an accident near Mexicali. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- November 16, 1987 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Mexicali, Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 441 · all 441s on the register
- Registration
- N2484B · no longer on the register · serial 441-0112
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 441 OPERATED BY THE USCS COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE ON A AUTHORIZED NIGHT TACTICAL FLIGHT. THE COPILOT DID NOT MEET THE CURRENCY STANDARDS AS REQUIRED BY USCS AND WAS NOT QUALIFIED IN THE ACFT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS AND CONTINUED TO ASTRONOMICAL TWILIGHT. THE PILOTS DID NOT DARK ADAPT PREVIOUS TO THE NIGHT CONDITIONS. DARK ADAPTION WAS IMPEDED BY FLIGHT THROUGH VARIOUS LIGHT CONDITIONS CREATED BY TERRAIN AND AMBIENT LIGHT LEVELS. WITH NIGHT VISION IMPEDED THE PILOT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DINSTINGUISH RELIEF OF THE TERRAIN. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SMALL RIDGE THAT ABRUPTLY ROSE 300 FT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 68 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,461 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 5, 1987; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,925 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-8-4025 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NZY San Diego CA at 11:20 pm
- Destination: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 am from IPL, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.