# NTSB MIA85LA127: Beech E18S, N49MA, St. Thomas, March 20, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 20, 1985, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: St. Thomas
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31373
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31373/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA127

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,tailwheel - unlocked (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING TAKEOFF WITH A SLIGHT TAILWIND COMPONENT & THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED. LATER, THE PLT REALIZED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N49MA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E18S
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA-238
- Airframe hours: 13321
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Four Star Aviation,Inc.
- Registered owner: Francis Mccarthy Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 1, 1985, 19 hours before
- Destination: SAN JUAN, PR
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: STT, Cyril E. King, runway 27, 5,358 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,401 total, 71 in this make and model, 5,095 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STT

## 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 19850320011479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850320011479A), Mar 20, 1985: Beech E18S, Charlotte Amali, U.S. Virgin Islands, Substantial damage. Lost control and ground looped on initial takeoff roll. Tail wheel not locked and had quartering tailwind.

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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