Cessna 205C accident near Bowling Green, Kentucky, June 16, 1987
On June 16, 1987 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 205C, registered N1823Z, was destroyed in an accident near Bowling Green, Kentucky (Bowling Green airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- June 16, 1987 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Kentucky · Bowling Green · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205C
- Registration
- N1823Z · registry record · serial 2050023
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM BOWLING GREEN, THE PILOT REPORTED A PROBLEM. HE DID NOT REPORT THE DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRCRAFT BACKFIRING AS IT DESCENDED. THE AIRCRAFT HAD TAKEN ON FUEL AT BOWLING GREEN. THE INVESTIGATION FAILED TO CONCLUSIVELY DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE REPORTED AIRCRAFT PROBLEM. THE IMPACT AND POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRFRAME AND PREVENTED A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE'S IGNITION AND FUEL SYSTEMS. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE EXAM DISCLOSED THAT BOTH THE PISTON AND VALVE TOPS WERE FREE OF COMBUSTION CARBON.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,069 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 60 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Zeemack Aircraft Sales
The flight
- Destination: 3HA Lansing IL
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 27, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from BWG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.