# NTSB FTW76FRG54: Beech D18S, N5302U, Mcallen, TX, May 18, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 18, 1976
- Place: Mcallen, TX · MCALLEN, TX
- Location: 26.2034° N, 98.2300° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of McAllen, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2034&lon=-98.2300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153687
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76FRG54
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FRG54

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1493  76/5/18    MCALLEN,TX          BEECH D18S          CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 52, 20000
        TIME - 1453                    N5302U              PX-  1  3  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MILLER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MCALLEN,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR RETRACTED                                           TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: SWITCHES,LEVERS,CRANKING MECHANISM,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY INSTALLED
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- TEST HOP DUE PREV GR MALF. GR CTL SWITCH IMPROPERLY WIRED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5302U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5302U-1976-07-30), registration cancelled 1976-07-30, S/N A401 (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: Miller

## 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 19760518016169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760518016169A), May 18, 1976: Beech 18S, Mcallen, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Test hop due prev gr malf. Gr ctl switch improperly wired.

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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