# NTSB MIA84FA043: Temco Raley D-16A, N704T, Everglades City, FL, December 11, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1983, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Everglades City, FL
- Location: 25.8601° N, 81.3804° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Everglades City, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8601&lon=-81.3804&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30956
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84FA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30956/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA043

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,line - failure,total (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - aircraft performance,two or more engines - failure,total (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate airframe, manufacturer (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

## Analysis

POWER WAS LOST ON BOTH ENGS SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO TURN TOWARDS THE SHORELINE & LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE WATER WHILE IN A LEFT BANK & CARTWHEELED. THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE MAIN FUEL TANK SUMP & THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR WAS RUPTURED. THE MAIN FUEL TANK & SUMP WERE VOID OF FUEL. A WITNESS AT THE ARPT STATED THAT HE OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE ACFT BOTTOM CENTER SECTION WHILE THE ACFT WAS ON THE GROUND. THE MAIN FUEL TANK IS THE 'COMMON FUEL SOURCE' FOR BOTH ENGS WHEN BOTH FUEL SELECTORS ARE POSITIONED TO THE MAIN TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N704T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704T-1985-10-01), registration cancelled 1985-10-01, S/N TTN-73 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEMCO RALEY D-16A (RALEY D-16)
- Registry model: [Temco D-16A](https://openairdocs.org/model/temco-d-16a) (registry code 9230604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TTN-73
- Airframe hours: 2000
- Engines: LYCOMING O-340-A1A 170 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Melvin E. Schwartz
- Registered owner: Gary Schwartz
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1983, 10 hours before
- Departed: XO1, EVERGLADES, FL
- Destination: TMB, MIAMI, FL
- Airport: XOI, Everglades, runway 15, 2,400 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 total, 200 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 16 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Observed at: APF, 30 nm away

## 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 19831211060499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831211060499A), Dec 11, 1983: Multec D16A, Everglades City, FL, Destroyed. Both engines quit on takeoff. Hit the water in a steep bank. Fuel line from the one main tank ruptured. Tank empty.

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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