Cessna TU-206F accident near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, July 4, 1987
On July 4, 1987 at about 11:39 pm local time, a Cessna TU-206F, registered N744AP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (Ft. Lauderdale Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was 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 4, 1987 · about 11:39 pm local time
- Place
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida · Ft. Lauderdale Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU-206F · all TU-206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N744AP · no longer on the register · serial U20602093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REFUELED FOR THE FLIGHT BY TOPPING OFF THE FUEL TANKS. HE THEN UTILIZED THE LEFT TANK UNTIL IT WAS EMPTY AND SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT. ABOUT 2 MILES SHORT OF THE DESTINATION THE ENGINE FAILED. THE RIGHT FUEL CAP WAS IMPROPERLY SEATED AND SEALED ALLOWING FUEL TO BE SIPHONED FROM THE TANK WHILE IN FLIGHT. THE ACFT LANDED IN THE 'CLEAR ZONE' FOR RWY 13 AND NOSED OVER WHEN THE NOSE GEAR DUG IN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,585 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 1986; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PNS Pensacola FL at 7:45 pm
- Destination: FXE Ft. Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:39 pm from FXE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.