Piper PA-23-160 and Piper PA-28-161 accident near Aurora, Oregon, December 12, 1987
On December 12, 1987, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-23-160 (N3275P) and Piper PA-28-161 (N2884G), were involved in the same accident near Aurora, Oregon (Aurora State airport). No one was hurt; 4 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 12, 1987
- Place
- Aurora, Oregon · Aurora State · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N3275P · no longer on the register · serial 543704394
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2884G · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916505
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-23-160 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIING FROM THE SOUTH END OF THE RAMP AREA TO THE RUNWAY. A TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE TAXIWAY IN FRONT OF THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RIGHT OF THE TAXIWAY. THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT THAT HAD TAXIED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT HAD A FOGGED WINDSCREEN.
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
A SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIING FROM THE SOUTH END OF THE RAMP AREA TO THE RUNWAY. A TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE TAXIWAY IN FRONT OF THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RIGHT OF THE TAXIWAY. THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT THAT HAD TAXIED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT HAD A FOGGED WINDSCREEN.
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-23-160 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,244 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 4,974 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,820 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 17, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 7S3 Hillsboro OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 30,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:44 pm from 3S2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 464 hours in all; 139 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 399 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: RSB Roseburg OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
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.