# NTSB MIA87FA259: Beech D18S, N76Q, Miami, FL, September 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1987, 13:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Location: 25.7743° N, 80.1937° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Miami, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7743&lon=-80.1937&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31784
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA259
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31784/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA259

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - documentation - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - company-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, faa(other/organization) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TAXI TO THE END OF RUNWAY 27R AND POSITIONED SO THE TAIL WAS OUT IN THE OVERRUN AREA. WITNESSES FURTHER STATED THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO TAKE AN OVERLY LONG TAKEOFF ROLL BEFORE LIFTING OFF. AFTER LIFT OFF, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP VERTICALLY, CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 FEET, ROLLED LEFT INVERTED, CRASHED TO THE GROUND IN A DIVE ON A HEADING OF 035 DEGREES AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS 955 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND THE CG WAS 14.5 INCHES AFT OF THE MOST REARWARD LIMIT. THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE FORM HAD BEEN ALTERED TO INDICATE THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN LIMITS FOR WEIGHT AND BALANCE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. EXAMINATION OF FAA RECORDS REVEALED AIR CARGO AMERICA HAD BEEN CITED FOR NUMEROUS BREACHES OF FEDERAL AIR REGULATIONS AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND HAD A HISTORY OF SUSPENSIONS/REVOCATIONSOF HIS PILOT AIRMAN IN CERTIFICATE. A PILOT OF AIR CARGO AMERICA REPORTED THE COMPANY PRESSURED THEIR PILOTS TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT OUTSIDE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL AIR REGULATIONS. FAA WAS NOTIFIED OF THESE PRACTICES IN 1985.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N76Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76Q-2000-12-20), registration cancelled 2000-12-20, S/N AF39 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D18S
- Registry model: [Beech D18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d18s) (registry code 1151004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AF-39
- Airframe hours: 7000
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Cargo America, Inc.
- Registered owner: Mary P. Bartel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 1987, 34 hours before
- Destination: FMY, FT. MYERS, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Miami International, runway 27R, 10,500 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,250 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870925056689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870925056689A), Sep 25, 1987: Beech D18S, Miami, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Almost 1000 lbs over gross and behind CG.aircraft went straight up on liftoff,rolled and dived to runway vertically

## Other investigations on N76Q (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA86IA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86IA211), Jul 17, 1986: Beech D18S (N76Q), Ft. Lauderdale, FL, incident, minor damage

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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