# NTSB MIA87LA158: Cessna 337E, N1253M, San Juan, PR, May 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 8, 1987, 18:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place: San Juan, PR
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA158
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31911/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA158

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,glassy

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE BASE LEG WITH 2/3 FLAPS LOWERED THE ACFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED LEFT BANK. CONTROL WAS PARTIALLY REGAINED, HOWEVER, THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A SPIN TO THE LEFT. CONTROL WAS NOT ESTABLISHED BEFORE THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE OCEAN WHERE IT RESTS IN APRX 23 FEET OF WATER. THE ACFT HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED THEREFORE NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL DESCRIBED BY THE PLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1253M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1253M-1989-01-27), registration cancelled 1989-01-27, S/N 33701253 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 337E
- Registry model: [Cessna 337E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337e) (registry code 2075721) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 33701253
- Airframe hours: 3575
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-C 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bermard V. Baus
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 1987, 10 hours before
- Departed: PSE, PONCE, PR
- Destination: SIG, SAN JUAN, PR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 312 total, 11 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJU, 12 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 19870508028369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870508028369A), May 8, 1987: Cessna 337E, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Destroyed. The pilot lost control effectiveness and the aircraft spun into the ocean. Aircraft not recovered. Cause unknown.

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.