Beech 23 accident near Miramar, Florida, June 20, 1987
On June 20, 1987 at about 7:28 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N2387J, was destroyed in an accident near Miramar, Florida (North Perry airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- June 20, 1987 · about 7:28 pm local time
- Place
- Miramar, Florida · North Perry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N2387J · no longer on the register · serial M-350
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE PLT LNDD, THE ACFT WAS SERVICED WITH 58.9 GAL OF FUEL. ITS FUEL CAPACITY WAS 60 GAL. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE PLT TOOK OFF, THE ACFT REMAINED ON THE RWY FOR ABOUT 2500' OF THE AVAILABLE 3000'. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT ENTERED A RGT TURN & REACHED A RPRTD ALT OF ONLY ABOUT 100'. ONE WITNESS SAID THE ENG WAS NOT RUNNING AT FULL PWR & THAT DARK GRAY SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ITS EXHAUST. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ACFT STALLED AS THE PLT WAS APPARENTLY ATTEMPTING TO TURN BACK. THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE ROOF OF AN UNOCCUPIED CHURCH SCHOOL. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER & SAND. WATER & SAND WERE ALSO FND IN THE FUEL FILTER & CARBURETOR FINGER STRAINER. BOTH FUEL CAPS WERE TESTED & FND TO LEAK WHEN WATER WAS APPLIED TO THE UPPER WING SURFACE. THE MANUFACTURER (BEECH) HAD ISSUED A CLASS I SVC BULLETIN (SB) FOR INSTALLATION OF IMPROVED FUEL TANK CAPS; HOWEVER, IMPROVED FUEL CAPS HAD NOT BEENINSTALLED. ALSO, CORROSION WAS EVIDENT IN THE WING SUMP & FUEL FILTER DRAINS, MAKING THE LATTER DIFFICULT TO OPERATE.
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: 416 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,352 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1986; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Hollywood FL at 7:27 pm
- Destination: SAV Savannah GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9R, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:28 pm from HWO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.