Boeing A75N1 accident near Keenesburg, Colorado, November 10, 1987
On November 10, 1987 at about 9:46 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1, registered N65110, was destroyed in an accident near Keenesburg, Colorado. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
- November 10, 1987 · about 9:46 pm local time
- Place
- Keenesburg, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N65110 · no longer on the register · serial 752627
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL AG PLT WAS STARTING A SPRAY RUN ON A NEW FIELD. DURING THE FIRST PASS, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINE WIRES. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED LEFT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A WINGS LEVEL, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. AN IMMEDIATE POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PLT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE PLT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE LOCAL AREA, HOWEVER THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT HE HAD SURVEYED THIS PARTICULAR FIELD PRIOR TO BEGINNING OPERATIONS. EVIDENCE AND WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT THE DECISION TO BEGIN THE NEW FIELD WAS MADE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF HAVING ENOUGH CHEMICAL LEFT FOR ABOUT TWO MORE PASSES. WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT THE ACFT PULLED UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE WIRES, BUT THE ATTEMPT FAILED. WIRE IMPACT DAMAGED THE LEFT WING MAIN STRUTS AND BOTH LEFT WINGS FAILED PRIOR TO IMPACT, ACCORDING TO A WITNESS' STATEMENT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,322 hours in all; 2,511 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 3,268 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1987; 175 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Air Dusters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.