LAX87FA309

1987-08-23 · SALTON CITY, California, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

N3784Q Beech C-55 Fatal

Probable cause & findings

INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INABILITY TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER IT ENTERED A SPIN.

Factual 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1987_LAX87FA309.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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