Cessna 170B accident near Asheville, North Carolina, December 19, 1986
On December 19, 1986 at about 3:35 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N8062A, was destroyed in an accident near Asheville, North Carolina (Can Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 1986 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Asheville, North Carolina · Can Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8062A · no longer on the register · serial 20914
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP, WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE AIRCRAFT PERFORM A 'WING-OVER' AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT LOW ALTITUDE AND IMPACT THE GROUND AT A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. A GROUND FIRE CONSUMED THE WRECKAGE. THE PILOT HELD A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE AND HAD ONE PASSENGER ABOARD. LOCAL PILOT'S HAD OBSERVED THE STUDENT PILOT VIOLATE FAR'S AND REPORTED THE ACTIVITIES TO THE FAA. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF INVESTIGATION OR REGULATORY ACTION TAKEN AGAINST THE STUDENT PILOT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C145 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Asheville NC at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 9A9 Marion NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,680 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from AVL, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.