Beech B60 accident near Fort Walton Beach, Florida, August 30, 2018
On August 30, 2018 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1976 Beech B60, registered N1876L, was destroyed in an accident during approach near Fort Walton Beach, Florida (Destin Executive Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's controlled flight into terrain after misidentifying the destination airport during a period of restricted visibility due to weather.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2018 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Walton Beach, Florida · Destin Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Beech B60, built 1976 · all B60s on the register
- Registration
- N1876L · no longer on the register · serial P-386
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot and three passengers departed on a cross-country flight in a twin-engine airplane. As the flight neared the destination airport, the pilot canceled his instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance. The approach controller transferred the flight to the tower controller, and the pilot reported to the tower controller that the airplane was about 2 miles from the airport. However, the approach controller contacted the tower controller to report that the airplane was 200 ft over a nearby joint military airport at the time. GPS data revealed that, when pilot reported that the airplane was 2 miles from the destination airport, the airplane's actual location was about 10 miles from the destination airport and 2 miles from the joint military airport. The airplane impacted a remote wooded area about 8 miles northwest of the destination airport. At the time of the accident, thunderstorm cells were in the area. A review of the weather information revealed that the pilot's view of the airport was likely obscured because the airplane was in an area of light precipitation, restricting the pilot's visibility. A review of airport information noted that the IFR approach course for the destination airport passes over the joint military airport. The Federal Aviation Administration chart supplement for the destination airport noted the airport's proximity to the other airport. However, it is likely that the pilot mistook the other airport for the destination airport due to reduced visibility because of weather. The accident circumstances were consistent with controlled flight into terrain. The ethanol detected in the pilot's blood specimens but not in his urine specimens was consistent with postmortem bacteria production. The carbon monoxide and cyanide detected in the pilot's blood specimens were consistent with inhalation after the postimpact fire.
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
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute (descent)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Rain › Effect on personnel
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,427 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,167.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 2018
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-541 (piston); 4,168 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-541 (piston); 4,168 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Henry Leasing Co Llc
The flight
- Departed from: KTOL Toledo OH
- Destination: KDTS Destin FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:23 pm from KVPS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on March 17, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specilaist's Factual Report- GPS | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | GPS Data- Attachment 1 | data file | Download |
| 3 | GPS Track | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Location Overview | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Approach Plate - Kdts | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Fuel Record | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Chart Supplement (Facility Directory) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Alnot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Air Traffic Control Transcript | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 10 | ATC radar Track | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | ATC Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Pilot Records (Excerpts) | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Photos | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 14 | Maintenance Records (Excerpts) | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 15 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 16 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 17 | Weather Study | PDF, 24 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.