Fleet 16B accident near Bellevue, Washington, August 16, 1987
On August 16, 1987 at about 8:33 pm local time, a Fleet 16B, registered N41871, was destroyed in an accident near Bellevue, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- August 16, 1987 · about 8:33 pm local time
- Place
- Bellevue, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fleet 16B
- Registration
- N41871 · registry record · serial 519
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A GOLF COURSE AFTER A POWER LOSS WHICH HE ATTRIBUTED TO CARBURETOR ICE. SUBSEQUENT TO THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT WAS FUELED WITH 10 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE. THE FUEL WAS CHECKED FOR WATER AT THE STRAINER DRAIN AND THE PILOT AND RATED PASSENGER THEN TAXIED OUT CONDUCTING AN ENGINE RUNUP BEFORE TAKING OFF. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY QUIT AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE GOLF COURSE, THE ONLY SUITABLE LANDING AREA AVAILABLE. THE ALTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE POWER LOSS PRECLUDED A SUCCESSFUL COURSE REVERSAL AND LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONCOULD BE RELATED TO THE ENGINE NOR WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF WATER IN THE FUEL. ALTHOUGH CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE RAPIDITY OF THE POWER CESSATION WAS SUCH THAT CARBURETOR ICING WAS UNLIKELY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 775 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 607 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R56 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: S13 Alderwood Manor WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from BFI, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.