Cessna 182F accident near Keams Canyon, Arizona, July 10, 1987
On July 10, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182F, registered N3598U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Keams Canyon, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 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
- July 10, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Keams Canyon, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182F · all 182Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3598U · registry record · serial 18254989
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A BUSINESS FLIGHT TO A PRIVATE DIRT STRIP, WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH THE PLT WAS DISTRACTED FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN HIS ATTENTION WAS BACK ON THE ACFT, IT HAD DRIFTED EAST OF THE STRIP. THE PLT APPLIED PWR, HOWEVER, HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN ENOUGH ALT AND A/S TO TRY AND LAND IN A FIELD, HOWEVER, THE ACFT LOST ALT AFTER CROSSING A WASH AND IT NOSED INTO THE TERRAIN. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 1,488 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,945 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 1987; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eichman Excavation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GUP Gallup NM at 8:45 pm
- Destination: Keams Canyon AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.