On June 6, 1987, a Piper PA-32-300 (registration N8985N) operated by Tony Peraza was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Barbara, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure during the final approach phase, which necessitated an emergency ditching in the ocean. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Engine failure occurred during an instrument landing system approach over water, forcing a ditching approximately four miles west of the airport. The aircraft was not recovered.
What happened
The flight was conducting an instrument landing system (ILS) approach when the engine ceased operation. This failure occurred shortly after the aircraft passed the final approach fix (FAF). Because the approach path was positioned partially over the water, the pilot was unable to reach the airport for a standard landing.
Instead of attempting to land at the airport, the pilot executed a ditching maneuver in the ocean. The aircraft came down in the water approximately four miles west of the airport. Following the incident, recovery efforts were unsuccessful, and the aircraft was not recovered from the sea.
Probable cause
Engine failure during the final approach phase, which necessitated an emergency ditching in the ocean.
What happened in the 6 Jun 1987 Piper PA-32-300 accident near Santa Barbara, CA?
Engine failure occurred during an instrument landing system approach over water, forcing a ditching approximately four miles west of the airport. The aircraft was not recovered.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 6 Jun 1987 involved a Piper PA-32-300, registration N8985N, operated by Tony Peraza, at Santa Barbara, CA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
Engine failure during the final approach phase, which necessitated an emergency ditching in the ocean.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…