N87WS

N87WS is a Cessna Conquest, a twin-engine turboprop operated by KEYSTONE AERIAL SURVEYS INC. SkyMeter has tracked 468 flights totalling 1,567 hours of airtime via ADS-B across 2 callsigns. The most frequent segment is KBIL to KBIL. Service window in our records spans 394 days. Of those flights, 76 (16.2%) carry at least one detected incident: a go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Cessna Conquest has a 49 ft wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight of 9,850 lb.

About the Cessna Conquest

The Cessna 441 Conquest II is a pressurized twin-turboprop business aircraft that represented Cessna's ambitious push into the cabin-class turboprop market during the late 1970s. Manufactured from 1977 to 1986, the Conquest II was designed to bridge the gap between light twins and larger corporate jets, offering jet-like cabin comfort with turboprop economics. Powered by two Garrett TPE331-8 engines producing 635 shaft horsepower each, the aircraft featured a distinctive T-tail configuration and could cruise at 270 knots while carrying up to nine passengers in a pressurized cabin.

What set the Conquest II apart was its rugged construction and impressive high-altitude performance for its class. The aircraft could reach a maximum operating altitude of 35,000 feet and offered a range of approximately 1,400 nautical miles with reserves, making it competitive with entry-level jets for many missions. The pressurization system maintained a sea-level cabin up to 12,400 feet, providing genuine comfort on transcontinental flights. However, the type earned a reputation for being maintenance-intensive, particularly regarding its landing gear system and engine accessories, which contributed to relatively high operating costs compared to simpler turboprops.

Despite production ending in 1986 after just 362 aircraft were built, the Conquest II remains popular among owner-operators and small charter companies who value its spacious cabin, speed, and ability to operate from shorter runways than comparable jets. The type continues to serve in corporate, air ambulance, and cargo roles worldwide, with many airframes having been upgraded with modern avionics including glass cockpits. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators over routes, with the largest observed operator.