# NTSB MIA88LA010: Beech A-90, N601TA, Ft Lauderdale, FL, October 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 12, 1987, 00:11 local (04:11 UTC)
- Place: Ft Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.189235, -80.16925 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1892&lon=-80.1693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32073
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88LA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32073/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA010

## Sequence of events

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

- Complete gear collapsed, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - landing gear,gear switch - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - gear retraction - inadvertent (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER THE PLT PLACED THE MASTER SWITCH ON TO START THE ENGINES THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. HE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER, IN THE CO-PLT SEAT, BUMPED THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE INTO THE UP POSITION. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT HE DID NOT. INSP OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS IN THE DOWN POSITION & THAT THE RT GEAR SAFETY SWITCH FAILED INTERNALLY. FAILURE OF THE SWITCH WILL NOT CAUSE THE GEAR TO COLLAPSE UNLESS THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE IS PLACED IN THE UP POSITION. THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE IS DESIGNED SO THAT IT MUST BE PULLED OUT THEN PUSHED UP TO RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO WHO PLACED THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE UP PRIOR TO TURNING ON THE MASTER SWITCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N601TA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N601TA-2013-02-08), registration cancelled 2013-02-08, S/N LJ-120, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A-90
- Registry model: [Beech 65-A90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-a90) (registry code 1152908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6 SER 578HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6-ser-578hp) (registry code 61501, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ120
- Airframe hours: 5675
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Executive Flt. Management
- Registered owner: Air Center, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 11, 1987, 71 hours before
- Destination: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FLL, Ft Lauderdale Hollywood

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,402 total, 1,308 in this make and model, 11,500 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 50° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLL

## 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 19871012059399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871012059399A), Oct 12, 1987: Beech 65A90, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Landing gear handle in up position when pilot turned on master. Landing gear retracted. Gear safety switch defect.

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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