- Date
- May 2, 1989, 20:30 local (May 3, 1989, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Summerland Key, FL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N28889Douglas C-47
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890502033199A
- Case key
- 32314
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot-in-command to assure proper altitude and clearance was maintained above the terrain and trees. The trees and light condition at dusk were contributing factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The flt (a monroe county mosquito control opn) began at about 1740 EDT to conduct low alt spraying. When it did not return, a search was initiated. At about 0245, the acft was found in a remote area on water key near the town of Summerland Key, FL. Evidence at the acdnt scene suggested the acft struck 40 ft high mangrove trees with the left wing as the plts were making a procedure turn to start another spray run. No preimpact failure or malfunction of the acft or engs was found. There were no known witnesses, but the acdnt was estd to have occurred at about 2030 EDT. Sunset was at 1952 EDT. About 22 mi sw at key west, the 1750 wx was in part: 1500' scat, 10 mi vis, wind from 330 deg at 10 KTS. Aprx 85 mi nne, the wind was from 100 deg at 11 KTS.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N28889
- Reported as
- Douglas C-47
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20520
- Airframe hours
- 10,317
- Engine
- P&W R-1830, 1,200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Public use
- Registered owner
- Monroe Co.Mosquito Ctrol.Dist.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1989 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- MTH · Marathon, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 8,165 total · 1,702 in this make and model · 7,141 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 0° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TMB, 85 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.