Boeing A75N1 accident near Argusville, North Dakota, April 16, 1987
On April 16, 1987 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1, registered N63915, was substantially damaged in an accident near Argusville, North Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 16, 1987 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Argusville, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N63915 · no longer on the register · serial 753256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF WITH A LOAD OF 46-0-0 FERTILIZER AND PROCEEDED TO THE FIELD TO BE TREATED. THE PLT SAID WHEN HE ARRIVED HIS FLAGGER WAS NOT IN POSITION SO HE INITIATED A GOAROUND. WHEN THE PLT HAD TURNED 90 DEG ONTO THE X-WIND LEG THE ACFT STALLED. THE PLT INITIATED RECOVERY BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE PLT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE 300 DEG AT 19 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 26 KTS.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 367 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 281 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 59Y Argusville ND at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from FAR, 11 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.