# NTSB FTW87LA180: Douglas DC-3A, N39DT, Laredo, TX, July 29, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 28, 1987, 21:02 local (Jul 29, 1987, 02:02 UTC)
- Place: Laredo, TX
- Coordinates: 27.510328, -99.499389 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5103&lon=-99.4994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22405/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA180

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine - failure,total (cause)
  - powerplant - undetermined
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,total (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED DURING INITIAL CLIMB IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFTOFF. AIRSPEED COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED WITH ONE ENGINE OUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING SLOWLY JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE AND WAS LOADED TO 3,809 POUNDS ABOVE ITS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED BUT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT STALL/MUSHED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT ENG WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACC AND NO MALFUNCTIONS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39DT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39DT-1991-04-23), registration cancelled 1991-04-23, S/N 4871 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-3A
- Registry model: [Douglas DC3A](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3a) (registry code 3021433) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4870
- Engines: P&W R-1830 900 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 125
- Operator: Ferreteria E.Implementos
- Registered owner: La Mesa Leasing Inc
- Destination: CCC, CUIDAD CARARGO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LRD, Laredo Int'L, runway 14, 5,926 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,500 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19870728040229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870728040229A), Jul 28, 1987: Doug DC3A, Laredo, TX, Substantial damage. Left engine failed on takeoff for unknown reasons. Cartwheeled during abort. Aircraft over maximum gross weight.

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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