Cessna 195A accident near Modesto, California, October 19, 1987
On October 19, 1987 at about 11:22 pm local time, a Cessna 195A, registered N4372N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Modesto, California (Modesto airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- October 19, 1987 · about 11:22 pm local time
- Place
- Modesto, California · Modesto
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195A · all 195As on the register
- Registration
- N4372N · no longer on the register · serial 7034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE END OF THE LANDING ROLL ON RUNWAY 28L, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND HE COULD NOT CORRECT IT AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 300 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS. THE AIRPORT WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITY REPORTED THAT 33 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS WERE FROM 340 DEGREES AT 8 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: 1,365 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,266 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 1987; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755-9A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 3,459 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from MOD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.