Beech C24R accident near Meyers, California, July 5, 1986
On July 5, 1986, a Beech C24R, registered N66287, was destroyed in an accident near Meyers, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were 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
- July 5, 1986
- Place
- Meyers, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C24R · all C24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N66287 · no longer on the register · serial MC673
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 8400 FT, AND AN AIRCRAFT NEAR ITS MAX CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT, THE PLT & 3 PAX DEPARTED ON RWY 18. DURING TAKEOFF EITHER THE PILOT'S DOOR WAS NOT CLOSED OR IT CAME OPEN. THE OPEN DOOR DEGRADED THE ACFT'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE. THE PLT BECAME DISTRACTED BY THE DOOR AND INADVERTANTLY FLEW INTO A BOX CANYON. DURING A TURNAROUND MANEUVER, THE ACFT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TREES AND TERRAIN.
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: 519 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: California Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: TVL South Lk. Tahoe CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.