# NTSB MIA92IA093: Douglas DC-3C, N135FS, San Juan, PR, March 10, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1992, 07:05 local (11:05 UTC)
- Place: San Juan, PR
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33009
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92IA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33009/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92IA093

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER LOADING OF PERSONNEL, AND IMPROPER SUPERVISION OF THE FIRST OFFICER/CO-PILOT WHILE CALCULATING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITS FOR THE FLIGHT. THIS RESULTED IN THE FORWARD CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT BEING EXCEEDED AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE DOWN OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ABSENCE OF PASSENGER SEATS FOR THE CARGO LOADERS OR BALLAST IN THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose down, landing - roll
  - fuselage,seat - not installed (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - supervision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper, copilot/second pilot (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLLOUT IN VFR CONDITIONS, A DC-3C, OPERATED BY A 14 CFR PART 135 OPERATOR, ON A 14 CFR PART 91 POSITIONING FLIGHT, NOSED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY SUBSTAINING MINOR DAMAGE. THE PIC, SIC, UNAUTHORIZED JUMPSEAT RIDER, AND TWO CARGO LOADERS LOCATED IN THE COCKPIT/FORWARD COMPARTMENT WERE NOT INJURED. NO CARGO, BALLAST, OR PASSENGER SEATS FOR THE CARGO LOADERS WERE LOCATED IN THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N135FS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N135FS-2018-03-09), registration cancelled 2018-03-09, S/N 20063, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-3C
- Registry model: [Douglas DC3C](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3c) (registry code 3021457) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1830 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-series) (registry code 52020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20063
- Airframe hours: 221
- Engines: P&W 1830-92 1200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Four Star Aviation Inc., doing business as Four Star Air Cargo
- Registered owner: Four Star Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 2, 2000
- Departed: STT, ST. THOMAS
- Airport: TJSJ, Luis Munoz Marin Int, runway 1, 8,016 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 145 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TJSJ, 1 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).

- [Incident 19920310011769I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920310011769I), Mar 10, 1992: Doug DC3C, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Minor damage. On landing rollout pilot braked and aircraft nosed up. Damaged propellers. Engines stopped. No defective systems.

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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