Beech 77 accident near Spokane, Washington, June 27, 1987
On June 27, 1987 at about 1:38 am local time, a Beech 77, registered N37292, was destroyed in an accident near Spokane, Washington. It was an instructional 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 27, 1987 · about 1:38 am local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N37292 · no longer on the register · serial WA-147
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO 50-75 FT AGL, DESCENDED IN A LANDING ATTITUDE, TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY NEAR THE DEPARTURE END AND TOOK OFF AGAIN. WHEN APPROACHING HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB, ROLLED RIGHT INTO AN INVERTED POSITION AND DESCENDED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ITS ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 381 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 237 as pilot in command; 74 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,819 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1987; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SFF Spokane WA at 1:35 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:47 am from SFF, 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.