# NTSB LAX87MA068: Piper PA-28-181, N7646F, Long Beach, CA, December 26, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1986, 15:03 local (23:03 UTC)
- Place: Long Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.809787, -118.180946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8098&lon=-118.1809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25707
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87MA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25707/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87MA068

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Midair collision, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

A PIPER PA-28-161, N7646F, AND A MOONEY M-20K, N231LY, COLLIDED NEAR PADER INTERSECTION ABT 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LGB AIRPORT. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE CONDUCTING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TRAINING AND NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. N231LY HAD CONDUCTED AN ILS APPROACH TO LGB AND WAS EXECUTING A VFR WINGS LEVEL CLIMBING MISSED APPROACH TOWARDS THE SUN AND N7646F WAS EXECUTING A RIGHT PARTIAL PANEL TURN AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. BOTH AIRPLANES COLLIDED NEAR HEAD-ON. N7646F'S LEFT OUTBD WING PANEL STRUCK THE MIDSPAN SECTION OF N231LY'S LEFT WING. THE CFI ABOARD N7646F SAW N231LY AND IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED A NOSE DOWN MNVR. THE CFI ABOARD N231LY DID NOT EXECUTE AN EVASIVE MANEUVER. VMC PREVAILED AT THE TIME, BUT A SMOG LAYER EXISTED. AFTER THE COLLISION N7646F LANDED AT SNA AND N231LY LANDED AT LGB WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N7646F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7646F), registered now, S/N 28-7790204, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7790204
- Airframe hours: 267
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Flight Center, Inc.
- Registered owner: Ray Hendrickson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 1986, 65 hours before
- Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Airport: LGB, Long Beach, runway 30, 10,000 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: N231LY (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20K
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0305
- Airframe hours: 854
- Engines: LYCOMING TSIO-360-GB1 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert W. Muzzy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 1986, 60 hours before
- Departed: L26, HESPERIA, CA
- Destination: LGB
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LGB, Long Beach, runway 30, 10,000 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N7646F; age 57; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 290 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days
- Pilot, aircraft N231LY; age 60; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,466 total, 17 in this make and model, 4,314 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGB, 13 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (2)

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

- [Accident 19861226072381A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861226072381A), Dec 26, 1986: Piper PA28181, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. Collided near head on with N231LY. Both near level flight with hooded students. Part of wing severed. Landed safely
- [Accident 19861226072382A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861226072382A), Dec 26, 1986: Mooney M20K, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. Collided nearly head on with N7646L both in near level flight. Saw other plane last seconds. Both IFR hooded dual.

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.

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