# NTSB LAX87LA226: Piper PA-32-300, N8985N, Santa Barbara, CA, June 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1987, 21:35 local (Jun 6, 1987, 04:35 UTC)
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA
- Coordinates: 34.410663, -119.700111 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4107&lon=-119.7001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25603
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25603/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA226

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING AN INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM APPROACH WHICH IS POSITIONED PARTIALLY OVER THE WATER, THE ENGINE QUIT JUST AFTER PASSING THE FAF. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT AT THE AIRPORT, INSTEAD, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DITCHED IN THE OCEAN APRX 4 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8985N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3240868
- Airframe hours: 3937
- Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Tony Peraza
- Registered owner: Peraza, Tony
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 1987, 10 hours before
- Departed: RAL, RIVERSIDE, CA
- Destination: RAL, RIVERSIDE, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SBA, Santa Barbara, runway 7, 6,049 × 150 ft, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,500 total, 33 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBA, 4 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870605019069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870605019069A), Jun 5, 1987: Piper PA32300, Santa Barbara, CA, Destroyed. The engine failed on an ILS final. The aircraft was ditched and not recovered. Fuel tank switched prior to failure.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.