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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 20, 1988 · Smith Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600 Aerostar 6 · N90360

Catano, PR

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 20, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Catano, PR
Aircraft
Smith Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600 Aerostar 6
Tail Number
N90360
Operator
Executive Air Charter
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA88FA201

As the acft was taxiing for takeoff, witnesses noted the L rear baggage door was unlocked & hanging down. A warning was relayed to the plt via the twr, but by then the acft was airborne & the plt had rprtd a control prblm. Drg lift-off, the acft pitched up sharply & entered an immediate rgt bank of abt 45 deg. As the gear retracted, the bank angle decreased to abt 20 deg. The acft was rprtd to yaw slightly fm side to side & circle to the rgt while climbing to abt 1000'. A witness (in radio ctc) asked the plt abt the problem; the plt replied the controls (ctls) were locked to one side. On advice of otrs, the plt tried to ctl the acft with eng power adjustments, but the acft lost alt to abt 200' AGL. Subsequently, while mnvrg, it struck a tree, then hit a utility pole & crashed. Drg impact the lower fuselage, which housed the flt ctl linkages, was badly dmgd. No preimpact mech prblm was verified concerning the flt ctls, autoplt or trim. A plt, who had previously flown the acft with the baggage door open, said he experienced no adverse ctl prblms.

Full Narrative

AS THE ACFT WAS TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, WITNESSES NOTED THE L REAR BAGGAGE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED & HANGING DOWN. A WARNING WAS RELAYED TO THE PLT VIA THE TWR, BUT BY THEN THE ACFT WAS AIRBORNE & THE PLT HAD RPRTD A CONTROL PRBLM. DRG LIFT-OFF, THEACFT PITCHED UP SHARPLY & ENTERED AN IMMEDIATE RGT BANK OF ABT 45 DEG. AS THE GEAR RETRACTED, THE BANK ANGLE DECREASED TO ABT 20 DEG. THE ACFT WAS RPRTD TO YAW SLIGHTLY FM SIDE TO SIDE & CIRCLE TO THE RGT WHILE CLIMBING TO ABT 1000'. A WITNESS (IN RADIO CTC) ASKED THE PLT ABT THE PROBLEM; THE PLT REPLIED THE CONTROLS (CTLS) WERE LOCKED TO ONE SIDE. ON ADVICE OF OTRS, THE PLT TRIED TO CTL THE ACFT WITH ENG POWER ADJUSTMENTS, BUT THE ACFT LOST ALT TO ABT 200' AGL. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE MNVRG, IT STRUCK A TREE, THEN HIT A UTILITY POLE & CRASHED. DRG IMPACT THE LOWER FUSELAGE, WHICH HOUSED THE FLT CTL LINKAGES, WAS BADLY DMGD. NO PREIMPACT MECH PRBLM WAS VERIFIED CONCERNING THE FLT CTLS, AUTOPLT OR TRIM. A PLT, WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THE ACFT WITH THE BAGGAGE DOOR OPEN, SAID HE EXPERIENCED NO ADVERSE CTL PRBLMS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:52 AST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSmith Ted Aerostar Aerostar 600 Aerostar 6
Tail NumberN90360
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorExecutive Air Charter
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1F5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 29 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind70° @ 15 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data