# NTSB MIA93FA015: Douglas DC-7CF, Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 6, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 6, 1992, 02:25 local (07:25 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Location: 26.1223° N, 80.1434° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Lauderdale, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1223&lon=-80.1434&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33168
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93FA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33168/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93FA015

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE #4 ENGINE FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASONS(S), AND THE INABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE TO REMAIN AIRBORNE DUE TO THE OVERGROSS WEIGHT TAKEOFF PERFORMED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE QUESTIONABLE AIRWORTHINESS OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINES DUE TO THE LACK OF RECORDS, AND THE FAILURE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO ADEQUATELY SURVEIL THE OPERATOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - 1 engine
  - engine assembly - overtemperature (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - maintenance,recordkeeping - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE CREW REPORTED OVER RADIO THAT THE #4 ENGINE FAILED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AND THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO DUMP FUEL WHEN THE #2 ENGINE OVERHEATED. THEY THEN INTENTIONALLY DITCHED THE AIRPLANE. THE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTERWARD, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 50% CORRODED AWAY. DUE TO MASSIVE SALT WATER CORROSION, NO PREIMPACT FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE #4 ENGINE COULD BE IDENTIFIED. NO RECORD OF AIRPLANE/OPERATOR BEING GRANTED CFR PART 129 CERTIFICATE AUTHORITY. NO SUBSTANTIATION OF THE TIMES IN SERVICE FOR THE AIRPLANE, ENGINES, PROPELLERS, AND TIME CHANGE COMPONENTS OR AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES COULD BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: HI619 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-7CF
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 45158
- Engines: WRIGHT 3350 93 2880 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Castillo, Claudio, doing business as Aerotin
- Registered owner: Castillo, Claudio
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: MIA, MIAMI, FL
- Destination: MDSD, SANTO DOMINGO, OF
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA, 12 nm away

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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