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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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September 25, 1987 · Beech D18S · N76Q

Miami, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 25, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Miami, FL
Aircraft
Beech D18S
Tail Number
N76Q
Operator
Air Cargo America
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA87FA259

Witnesses observed the aircraft taxi to the end of runway 27R and positioned so the tail was out in the overrun area. Witnesses further stated the aircraft appeared to take an overly long takeoff roll before lifting off. After lift off, the aircraft pitched up vertically, climbed to about 100 feet, rolled left inverted, crashed to the ground in a dive on a heading of 035 degrees and burst into flames. The aircraft was 955 pounds over maximum gross weight and the CG was 14.5 inches aft of the most rearward limit. The weight and balance form had been altered to indicate the aircraft was within limits for weight and balance prior to departure. Examination of FAA records revealed Air Cargo America had been cited for numerous breaches of Federal Air Regulations and the pilot-in-command had a history of suspensions/revocations of his pilot airman certificate. A pilot of Air Cargo America reported the company pressured their pilots to operate the aircraft outside the requirements of the Federal Air Regulations. FAA was notified of these practices in 1985.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TAXI TO THE END OF RUNWAY 27R AND POSITIONED SO THE TAIL WAS OUT IN THE OVERRUN AREA. WITNESSES FURTHER STATED THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO TAKE AN OVERLY LONG TAKEOFF ROLL BEFORE LIFTING OFF. AFTER LIFT OFF, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP VERTICALLY, CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 FEET, ROLLED LEFT INVERTED, CRASHED TO THE GROUND IN A DIVE ON A HEADING OF 035 DEGREES AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS 955 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND THE CG WAS 14.5 INCHES AFT OF THE MOST REARWARD LIMIT. THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE FORM HAD BEEN ALTERED TO INDICATE THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN LIMITS FOR WEIGHT AND BALANCE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. EXAMINATION OF FAA RECORDS REVEALED AIR CARGO AMERICA HAD BEEN CITED FOR NUMEROUS BREACHES OF FEDERAL AIR REGULATIONS AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND HAD A HISTORY OF SUSPENSIONS/REVOCATIONSOF HIS PILOT AIRMAN IN CERTIFICATE. A PILOT OF AIR CARGO AMERICA REPORTED THE COMPANY PRESSURED THEIR PILOTS TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT OUTSIDE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL AIR REGULATIONS. FAA WAS NOTIFIED OF THESE PRACTICES IN 1985.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:55 EDT
Nearest AirportMiami International (0nm N)
Runway27R
Runway Length10500 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftBeech D18S
Tail NumberN76Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAir Cargo America
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-985 · Reciprocating · 450
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 32 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 6 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 10000 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:05
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data