Beech C23 accident near Lamar, Colorado, June 14, 1986
On June 14, 1986 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N6337U, was destroyed in an accident near Lamar, Colorado (Lamar Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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 14, 1986 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lamar, Colorado · Lamar Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6337U · no longer on the register · serial M-2370
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB, THE PLT'S DOOR CAME OPEN. THE PVT PLT WITH 2 HOURS FLYING EXPERIENCE IN C-23 ACFT MADE A CLOSE IN TRAFFIC PATTERN TO RETURN FOR LANDING. DURING THE TURN FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL THE NOSE OF THE ACFT SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE ACFT STARTED TO SINK RAPIDLY. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND BEFORE TOTAL RECOVERY COULD BE AFFECTED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 569 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 13, 1986; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Aero Aviation
The flight
- Destination: Colorado Spring CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,304 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.