# NTSB MKC86FA179: Lockheed 18-56 (Howard 250), N252K, Texarkana, AR, August 28, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1986, 06:53 local (11:53 UTC)
- Place: Texarkana, AR
- Location: 33.4537° N, 93.9910° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at TEXARKANA RGNL-WEBB FLD (TXK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4537&lon=-93.9910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34075
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC86FA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34075/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86FA179

## 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 - final approach
  - planning/decision - improper (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper (cause)
  - improper use of procedure, company/operator management (cause)
  - improper use of procedure, pilot in command (cause)
  - elevator trim - excessive
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - reduced
  - aircraft handling - uncontrolled (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE APCHG FOR A LNDG, THE ACFT PITCHED UP, ROLLED INVERTED & IMPACTED THE TERRAIN TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY. NO PREIMPACTPART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND; HOWEVER, AN INV REVEALED THE ACFT HAD BEEN LOADED WITH THE CENTER-OF-GRAVITY (CG) WELLBEHIND THE AFT LIMIT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN WEIGHED ON 9/8/84. LATER, ON 1/2/86, WEIGHT & BALANCE DATA HAD BEEN RECOMPUTED AFTER REMOVAL OF A RADAR & AN AUTOPLT, BUT AN ERROR HAD BEEN MADE DURING THE WEIGHT & BALANCE PREPARATION. SUBSEQUENTLY,THE ACFT WAS OPERATED IN A TAIL HEAVY CONDITION. WHETHER USING THE EXISTING OR THE CORRECT DATA, CALCULATIONS FOR THIS FLT SHOULD HAVE SHOWN THE CG WAS BEHIND THE AFT LIMIT. THE ELEV TRIM TAB WAS FND TRIMMED TO A FULL NOSE DOWN POSITION; 200 LBS OF BALLAST HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN THE VICINTY OF THE AFT CARGO DOOR. TESTS OF LUNG TISSUE SHOWED THE PLT & COPLT HAD ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.044% & 0.171%, RESPECTIVELY. THE PLT'S URINE TESTED 0.035% FOR ALCOHOL. ALSO, PHENYLTOLOXAMINE, ACETAMINOPHEN & CHLORPHENIRAMINE (MEDICATIONS COMMONLY USED IN DECONGESTANTS/ANTIHISTAMINES) WERE DETECTED IN HIS URINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N252K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N252K-2012-09-12), registration cancelled 2012-09-12, S/N 2596, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED 18-56 (HOWARD 250) (18-56 (HOW)
- Registry model: [Lockheed 18-56](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-18-56) (registry code 5261642) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright C9HD series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-c9hd-series) (registry code 67028, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2596
- Airframe hours: 9534
- Engines: WRIGHT R-1820-56A 1250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Southwest Airlift, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 8, 1986, 34 hours before
- Departed: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: TXK, Texarkana Muni/Webb Field, runway 13, 5,200 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 9,766 total, 276 in this make and model, 92 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TXK, 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).

- [Accident 19860828046829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860828046829A), Aug 28, 1986: Lkheed 18LKHEED, Texarkana, AR, Destroyed. The aircraft rolled inverted on missed approach. Balance moment found aft of lg. Pilot had consumed alcohol.

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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