Fairchild SA227-AC accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, September 25, 1987
On September 25, 1987 at about 5:25 am local time, a Fairchild SA227-AC, registered N2689E, was destroyed in an accident near Twin Falls, Idaho (Joslin Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 25, 1987 · about 5:25 am local time
- Place
- Twin Falls, Idaho · Joslin Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SA227-AC · all SA227-ACs on the register
- Registration
- N2689E · no longer on the register · serial AC-653
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
CHK PLT WAS CONDUCTING CAPT PROFICIENCY CHK ON ANOTHER COMPANY PLT (PIC) UNDER DARK NGT CONDTNS. SUBSEQUENT TO FULL STOP LDG ON RWY 25, TAKEOFF CHKLST WAS RECITED. PIC COMMENCED T/O ON RWY 07. CHK PLT SIMULATED VI ENG CUT AFTER LIFTOFF. PIC WAS UNABLE TO ACCEL TO V2, CLIMB, OR MAINTAIN DIRECTNL CONTRL. ACFT LEVELLED OFF, A/S BEGAN TO DECAY & ACFT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. CHK CAPT FAILED TO TAKE CNTRL OR TERMINATE ENG CUT SIMULATION AS EVOLUTION DETERIORATED. ACFT COLLIDED WITH ILS GS TWR MARKED BY RED OBST LIGHTS. LOSS OF CNTRL FOLLOWED WHEN RGT WINGTIP/AILERON SEPARATED. ACFT THEN IMPACTED GND AND SLID TO A STOP. TKOF FLAP POSITION SHOULD BE 1/4. BOTH FLAPS FOUND NEAR 1/2 FLAP EXTENDED POSITION. HANDLE FOUND IN 1/2 FLAP DETENT. PERFMNC CHARTS SHOW ACFT ABL TO REACH V2 AT 50 FT ALT IN 6500 FT ROLL, THEN +575 FPM CLIMB (VYSE) AT ACC WT.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,800 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 114 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 5,300 as pilot in command; 1,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 774 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,500 lb
- Seats: 21
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-11U (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Air Industries, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: TWF Twin Falls ID at 4:30 am
- Runway 7, 8,703 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from BYI, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.