Piper PA-11 accident near San Marcos, California, November 28, 1987
On November 28, 1987 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-11, registered N4767H, was destroyed in an accident near San Marcos, California (Mountain Strip airport). It was an instructional 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 28, 1987 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- San Marcos, California · Mountain Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11 · all PA-11s on the register
- Registration
- N4767H · no longer on the register · serial 11-689
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 2 PLTS TOOK OFF ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT WHICH WAS TO BE A BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW FOR THE ACFT OWNER. DURING THE FLT, THE PLTS FLEW TO A DIRT STRIP ON A SADDLEBACK BETWEEN 2 MTN PEAKS NEAR SAN MARCOS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK A BOULDER & CRASHED NEAR THE NORTHEAST END OF THE STRIP. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACDNT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT HAD STRUCK THE BOULDER AFTER THE PLTS MADE A LOW PASS OVER THE STRIP ON A NORTHEASTERLY HDG. THE ACFT CAME TO REST ABOUT 30 FT NORTHEAST OF THE BOULDER WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE PROP BLADES CONTAINED CHORDWISE SCORING & MASSIVE SMEARING OR LEADING EDGE DAMAGE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT. AN EXAM OF THE RWY REVEALED NO INDCN OF THE ACFT TOUCHING DOWN BEFORE IMPACT. EVIDENCE WAS INCONCLUSIVE AS TO WHICH PLT WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED. ON THIS FLT, THE OWNER WAS CONSIDERED TO BE THE PLT-IN-COMMAND.
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: 1,890 hours in all; 1,422 in this make and model; 153 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,814 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1987; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L32 Oceanside CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: L32
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 1,500 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 22,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from CRQ, 7 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.