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NTSB Report
August 7, 1997 · Douglas DC-8-61 · N27UA
Miami, FL
Overview
Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 7, 1997
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities), 1 unknown outcome
Location
Miami, FL
Aircraft
Douglas DC-8-61
Tail Number
N27UA
Operator
Fine Airlines
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA97MA059
: On August 7, 1997, at 1236 eastern daylight time, a Douglas DC-8-61, N27UA, operated by Fine Airlines Inc. (Fine Air) as flight 101, crashed after takeoff from runway 27R at Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida. The three flightcrew members and one security guard on board were killed, and a motorist was killed on the ground. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a postcrash fire. The cargo flight, with a scheduled destination of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was conducted on an instrument flight rules flight plan and operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a Supplemental air carrier. Prior to takeoff, the airplane was misloaded to produce a more aft center of gravity and a correspondingly incorrect stabilizer trim setting. This precipitated an extreme pitch-up at rotation. Because of the incorrect stabilizer trim setting the pilots could not gain adequate control of the airplane before it struck the ground :
NTSB Probable Cause
The airplane being misloaded to produce a more aft center of gravity and a correspondingly incorrect stabilizer trim setting that precipitated an extreme pitch-up at rotation, was (1) the failure of Fine Air to exercise operational control over the cargo loading process; and (2) the failure of Aeromar to load the airplane as specified by Fine Air. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to adequately monitor Fine Air's operational control responsibilities for cargo loading and the failure of the FAA to ensure that known cargo-related deficiencies were corrected at Fine Air.
Full Narrative
On August 7, 1997, a Douglas DC-8-61 freighter, Fine Air cargo flight 14, crashed after departure from runway 27R at Miami IAP, Miami, FL. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 121 as a supplemental air carrier. The three crewmembers and one security guard onboard were killed. One individual in an automobile on the ground was also killed. The airplane was destroyed by impact and postcrash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. See NTSB/AAR-98/02 for details.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:36 EDT
Nearest AirportMiami International Airpo (1nm W)
Runway27R
Runway Length10502 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftDouglas DC-8-61
Tail NumberN27UA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFine Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT3D-3B · Turbofan · 18000
Seats0
People & Injuries
Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities), 1 unknown outcome
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 42 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:36
Weather SourceWFAC