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August 28, 1986 · Lockheed 18-56 (Howard 250) 18-56 (HOW · N252K

Texarkana, AR

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 28, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Texarkana, AR
Aircraft
Lockheed 18-56 (Howard 250) 18-56 (HOW
Tail Number
N252K
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC86FA179

WHILE APCHG FOR A LNDG, THE ACFT PITCHED UP, ROLLED INVERTED & IMPACTED THE TERRAIN TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY. NO PREIMPACTPART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND; HOWEVER, AN INV REVEALED THE ACFT HAD BEEN LOADED WITH THE CENTER-OF-GRAVITY (CG) WELLBEHIND THE AFT LIMIT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN WEIGHED ON 9/8/84. LATER, ON 1/2/86, WEIGHT & BALANCE DATA HAD BEEN RECOMPUTED AFTER REMOVAL OF A RADAR & AN AUTOPLT, BUT AN ERROR HAD BEEN MADE DURING THE WEIGHT & BALANCE PREPARATION. SUBSEQUENTLY,THE ACFT WAS OPERATED IN A TAIL HEAVY CONDITION. WHETHER USING THE EXISTING OR THE CORRECT DATA, CALCULATIONS FOR THIS FLT SHOULD HAVE SHOWN THE CG WAS BEHIND THE AFT LIMIT. THE ELEV TRIM TAB WAS FND TRIMMED TO A FULL NOSE DOWN POSITION; 200 LBS OF BALLAST HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN THE VICINTY OF THE AFT CARGO DOOR. TESTS OF LUNG TISSUE SHOWED THE PLT & COPLT HAD ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.044% & 0.171%, RESPECTIVELY. THE PLT'S URINE TESTED 0.035% FOR ALCOHOL. ALSO, PHENYLTOLOXAMINE, ACETAMINOPHEN & CHLORPHENIRAMINE (MEDICATIONS COMMONLY USED IN DECONGESTANTS/ANTIHISTAMINES) WERE DETECTED IN HIS URINE.

Full Narrative

WHILE APCHG FOR A LNDG, THE ACFT PITCHED UP, ROLLED INVERTED & IMPACTED THE TERRAIN TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY. NO PREIMPACTPART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND; HOWEVER, AN INV REVEALED THE ACFT HAD BEEN LOADED WITH THE CENTER-OF-GRAVITY (CG) WELLBEHIND THE AFT LIMIT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN WEIGHED ON 9/8/84. LATER, ON 1/2/86, WEIGHT & BALANCE DATA HAD BEEN RECOMPUTED AFTER REMOVAL OF A RADAR & AN AUTOPLT, BUT AN ERROR HAD BEEN MADE DURING THE WEIGHT & BALANCE PREPARATION. SUBSEQUENTLY,THE ACFT WAS OPERATED IN A TAIL HEAVY CONDITION. WHETHER USING THE EXISTING OR THE CORRECT DATA, CALCULATIONS FOR THIS FLT SHOULD HAVE SHOWN THE CG WAS BEHIND THE AFT LIMIT. THE ELEV TRIM TAB WAS FND TRIMMED TO A FULL NOSE DOWN POSITION; 200 LBS OF BALLAST HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN THE VICINTY OF THE AFT CARGO DOOR. TESTS OF LUNG TISSUE SHOWED THE PLT & COPLT HAD ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.044% & 0.171%, RESPECTIVELY. THE PLT'S URINE TESTED 0.035% FOR ALCOHOL. ALSO, PHENYLTOLOXAMINE, ACETAMINOPHEN & CHLORPHENIRAMINE (MEDICATIONS COMMONLY USED IN DECONGESTANTS/ANTIHISTAMINES) WERE DETECTED IN HIS URINE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:53 CDT
Nearest AirportTexarkana Muni/Webb Field (0nm N)
Runway13
Runway Length5200 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLockheed 18-56 (Howard 250) 18-56 (HOW
Tail NumberN252K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsWright · R-1820-56A · Reciprocating · 1250
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 62 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 10000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time06:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data