# NTSB MIA82FA128: Douglas DC-3C, N95C, St. Petersburg, FL, June 6, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 6, 1982, 16:54 local (20:54 UTC)
- Place: St. Petersburg, FL
- Location: 27.9086° N, 82.6865° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ST PETE-CLEARWATER INTL (PIE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9086&lon=-82.6865&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 5 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 6, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72709
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA82FA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72709/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82FA128

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,selector/valve - inadequate (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate recurrent training, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

AFTER A LOCAL MAINTENANCE FLIGHT THE CREW RETURNED TO ST. PETERSBURG TO PRACTICE FULL STOP LANDINGS. SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE DURING THE 2ND TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT ENG EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB TO ABOUT 50 FT AGL, THEN VEER RIGHT & CRASH EAST OF THE RWY. OTHER THAN A MALFUNCTIONING RIGHT FUEL TANK SELECTOR WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO BYPASS TO OTHER FUEL TANKS, THERE WAS NO PRE-IMPACT FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. BOTH RIGHT TANKS WERE EMPTY & THE LEFT TANKS CONTAINED ABOUT 175 GALS OF FUEL. HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT TESTS SHOWED THAT FLUID IN THE RIGHT TANK WOULD BYPASS THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR & LEAK INTO THE LEFT TANK WHEN THE ACFT SAT LEFT WING LOW FOR ABOUT 12 HRS. THE ACFT WAS NOT AIRWORTHY IN THAT ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF AN APPROVED 91.217 INSPECTION PROGRAM WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH. THE PIC HAD 5 HRS AS PIC OF DC-3 DURING THE LAST 5 MONTHS WITH 1 HR & 2 TAKEOFF & LANDINGS THE LAST 90 DAYS. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT IN A DC-3 FOR THE CO-PILOT WITH NO RECORD OF ANY TRAINING IN THE DC-3.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N95C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95C-2012-06-07), registration cancelled 2012-06-07, S/N 20139, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-3C
- Registry model: [Douglas DC3C](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3c) (registry code 3021457) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1830 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-series) (registry code 52020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20139
- Airframe hours: 15033
- Engines: P & W 1830 1200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Fromhagen Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Fromhagen Aviation, Inc.
- Departed: PIE, ST. PETERSBURG, FL
- Destination: PIE, ST. PETERSBURG, FL
- Airport: PIE, Clearwater Intl, runway 35, 7,988 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 8,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 203 °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 19820606020779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820606020779A), Jun 6, 1982: Doug DC3C, Clearwater, FL, Destroyed. Lost right engine on initial takeoff, stalled and spun into ground. No fuel right tank due to faulty fuel selector.

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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