# NTSB MIA78FA040: Beech D18S, N80FA, Clewiston, FL, February 11, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 11, 1978
- Place: Clewiston, FL · CLEWISTON, FL
- Location: 26.7528° N, 80.9392° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clewiston, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7528&lon=-80.9392&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 22, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78FA040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FA040

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0052  78/2/11    CLEWISTON,FL        BEECH D18S          CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                PRIVATE, AGE 32, UNK/NR
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N80FA               PX-  1  0  0  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED        UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- BALE OF MARIJUANA FOUND ALONG FLT PATH IN OPEN FIELD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80FA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80FA-1979-04-05), registration cancelled 1979-04-05, S/N CA207 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D18S
- Registry model: [Beech 3NM](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-3nm) (registry code 1151044) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19780211002549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780211002549A), Feb 11, 1978: Beech TC45G, Clewiston, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Bale of marijuana found along flt path in open field.

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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