- Date
- March 15, 1985, 02:55 local (07:55 UTC)
- Place
- Miami, FL
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N55CADouglas DC-6B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850315069759I
- Case key
- 31282
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Crew stated that on takeoff roll the number four engine failed and an aborted takeoff was intiated. During the decelleration after the throttles were closed the number four engine seized and the number four propeller separated when the propeller shaft failed. Inspection of the propeller shaft revealed it sheared off eight inches from the tip,and exhibited no evidence of a prior crack. Inspection of the engine oil screens revealed the precents of metal contamination. The operator had no plans to disassemble the engine. But planned to exchange it for an overhauled engine. The expct cause of the engines internal failure was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N55CA
- Reported as
- Douglas DC-6B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25328
- Airframe hours
- 41,074
- Engine
- P&W R2800-CB16/17, 2,400 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 129
- Operator
- Apa International Air, S.A.
- Registered owner
- F. A. Conner
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · February 27, 1985 · 31 hours before
- Destination
- SDO · Santo Domingo, OF
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 21,800 total · 12,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MIA
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.