Topham Auberry Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Auberry, California 93602
Sunday, June 28, 1987 12:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING AN APPROACH INTO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, THE STUDENT PILOT TOUCHED-DOWN, THEN DECIDED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE AND ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. ON THE INITIAL CLIMB-OUT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN OBJECT THAT MADE THE AIRCRAFT YAW RIGHT THEN LEFT. THE PILOT NEVER SAW WHAT THE AIRCRAFT HIT. AT CRUISE ALT THE PILOT CHECKED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WHICH APPEARED TO BE OK. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL DEPARTURE POINT WHERE, AFTER LANDING, THE DAMAGE WAS DISCOVERED THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE AIRSTRIP HE HAD PLANNED TO LAND AT WAS 3800 FEET LONG. THE AIRSTRIP, IN FACT, IS 2000 FEET LONG.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City AUBERRY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93602
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TOPHAM AUBERRY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 2176
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 4000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 659
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1140
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33827
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2856H
NTSB Number LAX87LA249
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 287916482
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 10 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours 2132
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EBERHARD, RONALD D.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2012
Aircraft Owner City MENLO PARK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94025
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NAVAJO AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 145 JOHN GLEN DRIVE
Operator City CONCORD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94520
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City NEW AUBERRY
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CCR
Destination City CONCORD
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --