Beech 35 accident near Cookson, Oklahoma, June 13, 1987
On June 13, 1987 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N3063V, was destroyed in an accident near Cookson, Oklahoma (Tenkille Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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 13, 1987 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cookson, Oklahoma · Tenkille Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3063V · no longer on the register · serial D-476
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER TAKEOFF SMOKE WAS SMELLED AND THEN OBSERVED IN THE COCKPIT. THE PILOT BELEIVED THAT THE SMOKE SOURCE WAS ELECTRICAL AND TURNED OFF THE MASTER SWITCH. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN FLAMES BEGAN BURNING THE PILOTS LEFT LEG. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STOPPED ON THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT AND PAX DEPLANED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE ENGINE OIL PUMP ATTACH BOLTS WERE FOUND TO BE LOOSE AND ALLOWING OIL TO DRIP ONTO THE HOT MUFFLER, WHICH IGNITED. FLAMES ENTERED THE COCKPIT THROUGH THE HOT AIR DUCT.
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: 197 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,251 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1986; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 44M Cookson OK at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 2EJ Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:47 pm from TUL, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.