Beech H-18 accident near Rockford, Illinois, September 22, 1987
On September 22, 1987 at about 1:02 pm local time, a Beech H-18, registered N5850S, was destroyed in an accident near Rockford, Illinois. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- September 22, 1987 · about 1:02 pm local time
- Place
- Rockford, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H-18 · all H-18s on the register
- Registration
- N5850S · no longer on the register · serial BA720
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS ON A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT FROM KENOSHA, WISCONSIN TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AFTER HAVING BEEN WITHOUT SLEEP FOR ABOUT 20 HOURS. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT CIRCLING A SUBDIVISION NEAR ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS AT A LOW ALTITUDE, JUST ABOVE THE TREETOPS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A STEEP LEFT BANK, DESCRIBED AS 70-90 DEGREES, WHEN IT REVERSED DIRECTION INTO A STEEP RIGHT BANK AND DESCENDED INTO THE TREES.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,716 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 27, 1987; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,900 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ENW Kenosha WI
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,100 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:08 pm from RFD, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.