Beech BE-18 accident near York, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1987
On April 30, 1987 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Beech BE-18, registered N66PA, was substantially damaged in an accident near York, Pennsylvania. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- April 30, 1987 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- York, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-18
- Registration
- N66PA · no longer on the register · serial 5111486
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FERRIED FROM MASSY, MARYLAND TO ANKENY, IOWA, A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE ON THE LEFT ENGINE WAS EXPERIENCED. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE IN A CORNFIELD WITH THE LANDING GEAR IN THE UP POSITION WHEN THE GEAR FAILED TO EXTEND. FIRE ERUPTED ON THE GROUND. DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE WAS UNDETERMINED.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine
- Flight time: 11,015 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,625 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Massey MD at 3:30 pm
- Destination: Ankeny IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.