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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 17, 1982 · Beech C-45H · N403SE

Taft, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 17, 1982
Injury Outcomes
14 injuries (14 fatalities)
Location
Taft, CA
Aircraft
Beech C-45H
Tail Number
N403SE
Operator
M H Yarter
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX83FA012

The aircraft was on a local flight involving a parachute jumping activity. In addition to the pilot, there were 12 parachutists and an observer on board. The pilot initiated his takeoff on runway 18. A witness stated that shortly after takeoff, the engine power was reduced to climb power, followed by the gear retraction. Reportedly, the aircraft had climbed to about 150 ft AGL when the nose pitched up, the plane rolled to the left and then it crashed in a steep left bank, nose down attitude. An investigation revealed that the aircraft was loaded well beyond its maximum gross weight and aft CG limits. The amount of fuel on board was not verified, but even with no fuel, the plane would have been about 580 lbs over the maximum limit. With 100 gallons, the estimated gross weight would have been about 9939 lbs with the CG at about 121 inches. The maximum certificated gross weight was 8750 lbs with an aft CG limit of 117.6 inches. Extensive ground fire damage, but no preimpact, mechanical discrepancies evident.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A LOCAL FLIGHT INVOLVING A PARACHUTE JUMPING ACTIVITY. IN ADDITION TO THE PILOT, THERE WERE 12 PARACHUTISTS AND AN OBSERVER ON BOARD. THE PILOT INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 18. A WITNESS STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED TO CLIMB POWER, FOLLOWED BY THE GEAR RETRACTION. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 150 FT AGL WHEN THE NOSE PITCHED UP, TH PLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND THEN IT CRASHED IN A STEEP LEFT BANK, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WELL BEYOND ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND AFT CG LIMITS. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD WAS NOT VERIFIED, BUT EVEN WITH NO FUEL, THE PLANE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 580 LBS OVER THE MAXIMUM LIMIT. WITH 100 GALLONS, THE ESTIMATED GROSS WEIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 9939 LBS WITH THE CG AT ABOUT 121 INCHES. THE MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT WAS 8750 LBS WITH AN AFT CG LIMIT OF 117.6 INCHES. EXTENSIVE GROUND FIRE DAMAGE, BUT NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES EVIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:45 PDT
Nearest AirportPrivate Airport (0nm N)
Runway18
Runway Length3300 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftBeech C-45H
Tail NumberN403SE
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorM H Yarter
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP & W · R-985 · Reciprocating · 450
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary14 injuries (14 fatalities)
Fatal14
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total14
Crew 1Age 64 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 3 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point16 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:54

Appendix: Source Data