Cessna 182F accident near Wickenburg, Arizona, January 4, 1987
On January 4, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182F, registered N3587U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wickenburg, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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
- January 4, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wickenburg, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182F · all 182Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3587U · no longer on the register · serial 18254987
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE QUIT APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WEST OF THE WICKENBURG AIRPORT AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING OFF THE ARPT IN A FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT TANK. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY AND NO FUEL DRAINED FROM THE SUMP. THE LEFT TANK HAD A TRACE OF FUEL BUT NOT DRAINED FROM THE SUMP. THE PLT'S FLYING TIME WAS NOT AVAILABLE/NOT REPORTED.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,177 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1986; 2,144 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PO6 Bullhead AZ at 4:35 pm
- Destination: E25 Wickenburg AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 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 | |||
| 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.