Beech F33A accident near Goodyear, Arizona, February 18, 1988
On February 18, 1988 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N6785Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goodyear, Arizona (Goodyear airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- February 18, 1988 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Goodyear, Arizona · Goodyear · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N6785Y · no longer on the register · serial CE 1027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 300 FEET, THE PILOT AND STUDENT SAID THEY HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE COWLING WAS GONE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE OFF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE HUB IN FLIGHT. INSPECTION OF THE PROPELLER BLADE INDICATED SEVERE FATIGUE CRACKING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,119 hours in all; 329 in this make and model; 149 in the last 90 days; 10,972 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,535 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 10, 1988; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E60 Eloy AZ at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,500 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from GYR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.