CHI88FA075

NTSB accident investigation · Beech E18S · Warren, MI · March 10, 1988

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
March 10, 1988, 00:26 local (05:26 UTC)
Place
Warren, MI
Injuries
3 fatal; on the ground: 2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N900WPBeech E18S
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report September 11, 1989
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19880310004929A
Case key
13933

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Dispatch procedures - inadequateCompany/operator managementFactor
Aircraft weight and balance - not performedPilot in commandCause
Aircraft weight and balance - improperCause
Aircraft performance,climb capability - inadequateCause
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Supervision - poorCompany/operator managementFactor

Analysis

The flt was an air taxi cargo flt carrying truck parts. After takeoff, the twr asked the plt if he was in difficulty and the plt replied 'roger' and requested a change of flt plan. The acft was seen flying erratically just above the tree tops. The acft descended almost vertically into a residential area. The rear of one home was ignited by the impact and 2 occupants of the house were fatally burned. Post acc investigation revealed no eng malfunction but there were discrepancies in the load manifest and the acft wt & balance. Before takeoff a co employee watched the plt secure the cargo with ropes nets & clips but did not help because he 'didn't know what the plt was doing.' Impact 'amage precluded determination of the original placement and security of the cargo and any possible shifting prior to impact. The net weight on the cargo manifest did not include the wt of the trays to hold the parts. This was an omission of 150 lbs. Co personnel said no wt & balance info was left with them when the acft departed.

Aircraft

Registration
N900WP
Reported as
Beech E18S
Category
Airplane
Serial number
BA298
Engine
P&W R-985-B14, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Part 135
Registered owner
Lafayette Aviation, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · September 1, 1987 · 121 hours before
Departed
DET · Detroit, MI
Destination
FWA · Fort Wayne, IN

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
31
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
1,764 total · 375 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
340° at 12 knots
Visibility
12 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,500 ft overcast
Temperature
34 °F, dew point 25 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
DET, 4 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.