# NTSB DCA78AA024: Beech D18S, N500L, San Juan, PR, September 26, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 26, 1978
- Place: San Juan, PR · SAN JUAN, PR
- Location: 18.4663° N, 66.1057° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Juan, PR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.4663&lon=-66.1057&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 23, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139794
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA78AA024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA78AA024

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2965  78/9/26    SAN JUAN,PR         BEECH D18S          CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1845                    N500L               PX-  5  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 50, 4365 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            46 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SAN JUAN INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BORINQUEN,PR                SAN JUAN,PR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS - VORTEX TURBULENCE
        FACTOR(S)
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT: TRANSMITTERS AND/OR RECEIVERS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE ON TERMINAL RADAR SERVICE AREA FREQUENCY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N500L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500L-1985-09-13), registration cancelled 1985-09-13, S/N A415 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D18S
- Registry model: [Beech D18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d18s) (registry code 1151004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: San Juan Intl

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780926044069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780926044069A), Sep 26, 1978: Beech D18S, San Juan,Pr, Puerto Rico, Destroyed, 8 fatal. Unable to communicate on terminal radar service area frequency.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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