Beech B-60 accident near Kanab, Utah, July 6, 1987
On July 6, 1987 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Beech B-60, registered N18444, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kanab, Utah (Kanab Muni airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- July 6, 1987 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Kanab, Utah · Kanab Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B-60 · all B-60s on the register
- Registration
- N18444 · no longer on the register · serial P-439
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL CORPORATE PLT HAD DEPLANED HIS PASSENGERS AND WAS BEGINNING THE SECOND LEG OF A CORP/EXEC FLIGHT. DURING GROUND RUN THE PLT DETECTED A MANIFOLD PRESSURE LOSS ON THE LEFT ENGINE. THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND APPLIED HEAVY BRAKING. THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE RNWY, CROSSED DRY DRAINAGE DITCH AND WENT THROUGH THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED IN SOFT SAND AND THE PROPELLERS CONTACTED THE TERRAIN. A POST CRASH FIRE IN THE LEFT MAIN BRAKE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE PLT. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TURBOCHARGER INLET DURING ACCELERATION.
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: 3,408 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 3,308 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1987; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,775 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-541-E1C4 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 6,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.