Beech A35 and Piper PA-30 mid-air collision near Chino Hills, California, December 19, 1987
On December 19, 1987 at about 10:57 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Beech A35 (N675B) and Piper PA-30 (N2627Y), were involved in a mid-air collision near Chino Hills, California (Fullerton Muni airport). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER AND THUS AVERT THE COLLISION.
FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER AND THUS AVERT THE COLLISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 1987 · about 10:57 pm local time
- Place
- Chino Hills, California · Fullerton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech A35 · all A35s on the register
- Registration
- N675B · no longer on the register · serial D1676
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N2627Y · no longer on the register · serial 376
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech A35 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BEECH A35 AND A PIPER PA-30 COLLIDED IN FLIGHT WHILE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE DESTROYED. THE BEECH HAD BEEN INBOUND FOR LANDING TO AN AIRPORT 5 MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT THE PIPER HAD JUST DEPARTED. THE WEATHER WAS VMC. THE POSITION OF THE SUN RELATIVE TO THE PIPER PILOT WOULD HAVE RESTRICTED HIS VIEW OF THE BEECH. THE BEECH PILOT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE ATCT AT HIS DESTINATION. THE PIPER PILOT WAS NOT USING AVAILABLE ATC SERVICES.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-30 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BEECH A35 AND A PIPER PA-30 COLLIDED IN FLIGHT WHILE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE DESTROYED. THE BEECH HAD BEEN INBOUND FOR LANDING TO AN AIRPORT 5 MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT THE PIPER HAD JUST DEPARTED. THE WEATHER WAS VMC. THE POSITION OF THE SUN RELATIVE TO THE PIPER PILOT WOULD HAVE RESTRICTED HIS VIEW OF THE BEECH. THE BEECH PILOT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE ATCT AT HIS DESTINATION. THE PIPER PILOT WAS NOT USING AVAILABLE ATC SERVICES.
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 for the Beech A35 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37,862 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 1987; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 10:26 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,856 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from CNO, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-30 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
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.