# NTSB MIA87FA236: Cessna 152, N48864, Opa Locka, FL, August 31, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1987, 08:24 local (12:24 UTC) - Place: Opa Locka, FL - Coordinates: 25.909736, -80.269233 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9097&lon=-80.2692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 31777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31777/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA236 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - traffic advisory - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, dual student (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, landing - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot of other aircraft - traffic advisory - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A STUDENT PLT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) IN CESSNA 152, N48864, TOOK OFF & ENTERED RGT TRAFFIC TO PRACTICE LNDGS ON RWY 9R. SOONTHEREAFTER, A HELICOPTER PLT (H/P) IN A BELL 47G-2, N6728D, TOOK OFF & ENTERED RGT TRAFFIC TO PRACTICE LNDGS IN A DESIG-NATED HELICOPTER AREA (AREA-A) BESIDE RWY 9R. THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR AREA-A WAS INSIDE & BLO THE PATTERN FOR RWY 9R. AT0816, WHEN THE H/P WAS CLRD FOR TKOF, THE LCL CTLR (LC) ADZD HIM OF THE CESSNA MAKING TOUCH-&-GO LNDGS ON RWY 9R. ABT 1 MIN LTR, THE LC ADZD THE CESSNA PLTS OF THE HELICOPTER OPERATING IN AREA-A, BUT MADE NO FURTHER TRAFFIC ADZYS TO EITHER ACFT. AS THE CESSNA WAS ON ITS 4TH APCH, THE CFI SIMULATED AN EMERGENCY BY REDUCING THE PWR TO IDLE. AT THAT TIME, THE H/P WAS ON HIS 2ND APCH. AS THE CFI & STUDENT CONTD ON A BASE-TO-FINAL TURN, THE CESSNA CONVERGED WITH THE HELICOPTER FROM THE REAR. AT APRX 0824, THE 2 ACFT COLLIDED, SEVERING THE CESSNA'S NOSE GEAR & DAMAGING ITS PROP & RGT MAIN GEAR. THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN UNCTLD DSCNT & CRASHED. THE CFI TOOK CTL OF THE CESSNA & LNDD ON RWY 9R. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A STUDENT PLT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) IN CESSNA 152, N48864, TOOK OFF & ENTERED RGT TRAFFIC TO PRACTICE LNDGS ON RWY 9R. SOONTHEREAFTER, A HELICOPTER PLT (H/P) IN A BELL 47G-2, N6728D, TOOK OFF & ENTERED RGT TRAFFIC TO PRACTICE LNDGS IN A DESIG-NATED HELICOPTER AREA (AREA-A) BESIDE RWY 9R. THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR AREA-A WAS INSIDE & BLO THE PATTERN FOR RWY 9R. AT0816, WHEN THE H/P WAS CLRD FOR TKOF, THE LCL CTLR (LC) ADZD HIM OF THE CESSNA MAKING TOUCH-&-GO LNDGS ON RWY 9R. ABT 1 MIN LTR, THE LC ADZD THE CESSNA PLTS OF THE HELICOPTER OPERATING IN AREA-A, BUT MADE NO FURTHER TRAFFIC ADZYS TO EITHER ACFT. AS THE CESSNA WAS ON ITS 4TH APCH, THE CFI SIMULATED AN EMERGENCY BY REDUCING THE PWR TO IDLE. AT THAT TIME, THE H/P WAS ON HIS 2ND APCH. AS THE CFI & STUDENT CONTD ON A BASS-TO-FINAL TURN, THE CESSNA CONVERGED WITH THE HELICOPTER FROM THE REAR. AT APRX 0824, THE 2 ACFT COLLIDED, SEVERING THE CESSNA'S NOSE GEAR & DAMAGING ITS PROP & RGT MAIN GEAR. THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN UNCTLD DSCNT & CRASHED. THE CFI TOOK CTL OF THE CESSNA & LNDD ON RWY 9R. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N48864](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48864-1990-02-27), registration cancelled 1990-02-27, S/N 15283383 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15283383 - Airframe hours: 3258 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Airway Charters Ltd., Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 17, 1987, 12 hours before - Airport: OPF, Opa Locka, runway 9R, 3,503 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N6728D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6728D-2002-10-17), registration cancelled 2002-10-17, S/N 2224, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2224 - Airframe hours: 6653 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-435 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kimura International, Inc. - Registered owner: Louisiana Farm Equipment, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 21, 1987, 83 hours before - Airport: OPF, Opa Locka ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N48864; age 28; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 650 total, 400 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N6728D; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 100 total, 31 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OPF, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19870831080991A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870831080991A), Aug 31, 1987: Cessna 152, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Made short pattern and turned into helicopter area colliding with helicopter N6728D. Tower did not warn of traffic. - [Accident 19870831080992A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870831080992A), Aug 31, 1987: Bell 47G2, Miami, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Was struck by a 152 N48864 that made a short final into helicopter operating area. Tower failed to warn of traffic. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.