Piper PA-32R-300 and Beech E18S accident near Los Angeles, California, December 22, 1987
On December 22, 1987 at about 3:00 am local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-32R-300 (N75397) and Beech E18S (N911E), were involved in the same accident near Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles airport). 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
- December 22, 1987 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · Los Angeles
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N75397 · registry record · serial 32R-7680301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N911E · registry record · serial BA-10
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-32R-300 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING AFTER LANDING, N911E WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO A POSITION AND HOLD, EN ROUTE TO THAT POSITION, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH N75397 THAT WAS ALSO HOLDING IN THE SAME POSITION. THE PLT OF N911E STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE ACFT DUE TO MOISTURE THAT HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE WIND SHIELD, THE CONFIGURATION OF THE ACFT CONTRIBUTED TO POOR FORWARD VISIBILITY, AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WAS CLOSE TO FLAT WHICH LED TO POOR BRAKING ACTION.
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 Beech E18S final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING AFTER LANDING, N911E WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO A POSITION AND HOLD, EN ROUTE TO THAT POSITION, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH N75397 THAT WAS ALSO HOLDING IN THE SAME POSITION. THE PLT OF N911E STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE ACFT DUE TO MOISTURE THAT HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE WIND SHEILD. THE CONFIGURATION OF THE ACFT CONTRIBUTED TO POOR FORWARD VISIBILITY, AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WAS CLOSE TO FLAT WHICH LED TO POOR BRAKING ACTION.
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 Piper PA-32R-300 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 1,470 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,104 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 14, 1987; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G50 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:07 am from LAX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Beech E18S 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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 13,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 1:15 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
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.