Boeing B-17G accident near Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1987
On August 23, 1987 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Boeing B-17G, registered N93012, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania (Beaver County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 9 others were 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1987 · about 10:45 pm local time · cases in 1987
- Place
- Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania · Beaver County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 9 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing B-17G · all B-17Gs on the register
- Registration
- N93012 · registry record · serial 32264
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG AN APCH IN GUSTY WINDS, THE PLT NOTED A RGT X-WIND. HE STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ROLL-OUT WAS STABILIZED FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, THEN THE RGT WING BEGAN TO LIFT. HE APPLIED FULL AILERON & RUDDER TO MAINT CONTROL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. THE ACFT CONTD OFF AN EMBANKMENT AT THE DEP END OF THE RWY & WAS DAMAGED.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 28,200 hours in all; 47 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 36
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-1820 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Beaver Falls PA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 | 7 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N93012 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N93012 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Boeing B-17 17 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Boeing 6,678 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Wright R-1820 185 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Beaver County · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Pennsylvania 1,836 since 1982 · 234 in the last ten years
- Pennsylvania 6,195 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N93012 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC87LA238.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.