Cessna 172M accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, November 25, 1987
On November 25, 1987 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N21460, was destroyed in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon (Hillsboro airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 25, 1987 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Hillsboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N21460 · no longer on the register · serial 63951
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE DAILY RADIO TRAFFIC REPORTING FLIGHT WAS CLEARED FOR AN IFR DEPARTURE FROM HILLSBORO AIRPORT IN IMC. THE OWNER/ OPERATOR OF THE AIRCRAFT STATED THE COMPANY HAD A 'NO IFR' POLICY. ON TAKEOFF WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TO BE LOWER AND SLOWER THAN NORMAL AND ABOUT 100 FT AGL PAST THE RUNWAY MIDPOINT THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH 35-FOOT TREES AND A POWERLINE 600 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE AND APPROXIMATELY 135 DEGREES OFF THE RUNWAY HEADING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS/FAILURES.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 699 hours in all; 509 in this make and model; 244 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 640 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,082 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 20, 1987; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hillsboro Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Destination: PDX Portland OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 6,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:02 pm from HIO
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.