Beechcraft C-55 N3784Q
23 August 1987 · Salton City, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 23 August 1987 at about 18:30 local time, a Beechcraft C-55 registered N3784Q, operated by Palm Springs Flight Center, was involved in an accident near Salton City, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Salton City, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.4791, -116.1007
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft C-55
- Registration
- N3784Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Palm Springs Flight Center
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Palm Springs → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX87FA309
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INABILITY TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER IT ENTERED A SPIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT AT A LOW ALTITUDE, CLIMBING, WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. HE STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE SOUNDS DECREASE AND OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ROLL OVER INTO A SPIN. THE WITNESS SAID THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED INVERTED DURING ONE SPINNING TURN BUT RETURNED TO AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN. EXAM OF THE PROPELLERS INDICATED THAT THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED. EXAM OF THE ENGINES DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft C-55 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 1987 | Beechcraft C-55 | Brookhaven, Mississippi, United States | Bradley, William G. (Dr) | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 Dec 1986 | Beechcraft C-55 | Ivel, Kentucky, United States | Air West Virginia, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1987 | Durbin MONNETT MONI | Ramona, California, United States | Lipner, Robert M. | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Dec 1987 | Bede BD-5 | Chula Vista, California, United States | Teufel, Armin U. | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Oct 1987 | Stits ELKINS 85 | Camarillo, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Nov 1987 | Isgrigg ELITE | Tehachapi, California, United States | Isgrigg, John | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Dec 1987 | Rolladen-Schneider LS-3 | Santa Ynez, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 1987 | Cessna 152 | San Dimas, California, United States | King Aviation | Minor injuries | - |