Beech 65 accident near Covington, Louisiana, October 25, 1987
On October 25, 1987 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Beech 65, registered N504AC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Covington, Louisiana (Covington Vincent airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 7 others were 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
- October 25, 1987 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Covington, Louisiana · Covington Vincent · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 7 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 65 · all 65s on the register
- Registration
- N504AC · no longer on the register · serial LC-163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM TAKEOFF, THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. THE PLT STATED THAT RIGHT RUDDER AND AILERON INPUTS WERE INEFFECTIVE TO STOP THE ACFT FROM ROLLING LEFT AND THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND AS HE WAS RETARDING PWR ON THE RIGHT ENG.
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, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,050 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 3,720 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GSIO-480-A1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LA87 Covington LA at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,400 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 6 |
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.