Cessna 195A and Piper PA-28-161 accident near Burbank, California, December 21, 1987
On December 21, 1987 at about 7:06 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 195A (N4026A) and Piper PA-28-161 (N4309Y), were involved in the same accident near Burbank, California (Burbank airport). No one was hurt; 3 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
- December 21, 1987 · about 7:06 pm local time
- Place
- Burbank, California · Burbank · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 195A · all 195As on the register
- Registration
- N4026A · no longer on the register · serial 7830
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4309Y · no longer on the register · serial 28-8316087
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 195A final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE HOLDING SHORT OF THE ACTIVE RWY, THE NUMBER ONE ACFT WAS HAVING RADIO PROBLEMS. THE CONTROLLER BEGAN TO CLEAR OTHER ACFT FOR TAKEOFF. TWO ACFT WERE ABLE TO GET AROUND THE NUMBER ONE ACFT AND TAKEOFF. THE THIRD ACFT, CLEARED TO TAXI INTO POSITION, DID NOT SEE THE NUMBER ONE ACFT NOR DID HE REALIZE AN ACFT WAS HOLDING IN FRONT OF HIM. THE NUMBER THREE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NUMBER ONE ACFT.
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-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE HOLDING SHORT OF THE ACTIVE RWY, THE NUMBER ONE ACFT,N4309Y, WAS HAVING RADIO PROBLEMS. THE TOWER BEGAN TO CLEAR OTHER ACFT FOR TAKEOFF. TWO ACFT WERE ABLE TO GET AROUND THE NUMBER ONE ACFT AND TAKEOFF. THE THIRD ACFT CLEARED TO TAXI INTO POSITION DID NOT SEE THE NUMBER ONE ACFT NOR DID HE REALIZE AN ACFT WAS HOLDING IN FRONT OF HIM, COLLIDED INTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NUMBER ONE ACFT.
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 Cessna 195A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,947 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,796 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1987; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755A2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 6,074 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from BUR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 98 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 56 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: California Aviation
The flight
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 6,074 ft by 150 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N4026A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.