Rockwell 700 accident near Pompano Beach, Florida, October 12, 1987
On October 12, 1987 at about 6:37 pm local time, a Rockwell 700, registered N26574, was destroyed in an accident near Pompano Beach, Florida. 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
- October 12, 1987 · about 6:37 pm local time
- Place
- Pompano Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 700
- Registration
- N26574 · no longer on the register · serial 70006
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE LEFT ENGINE STARTED TO LEAVE A TRAIL OF WHITE SMOKE, THE ACFT THEN TURNED LEFT BACK TOWARDS THE ARPT & CRASHED INTO THE STREET. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED ONE OF THE LEFT ENGINE CRANKSHAFT COUNTERWEIGHTS FAILED CAUSING THE #6 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD TO BREAK & PUNCTURE A HOLE IN THE UPPER ENGINE CASE. BOTH PROPELLERS WERE FOUND IN FEATHER.
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
- Flight time: 5,380 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,565 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1986; 182 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,600 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-R2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: R.S. Jones And Associates, INC
The flight
- Destination: MLB Melbourne FL
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:37 pm from PMP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.