# NTSB MKC88LA112: Beech D18S, N4234A, St. Louis, MO, June 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 18, 1988, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Location: 38.6273° N, 90.1979° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Louis, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6273&lon=-90.1979&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34589
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34589/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88LA112

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,modification - performed, company maintenance personnel

## Analysis

ARRIVING AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT AFTER A NIGHT 14 CFR 135 AIR TAXI CARGO FLIGHT, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING ROLL-OUT CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.  POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN LANDING GEAR DRAG LINK, WHICH CAUSED THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSE.  THE ACFT WAS A VOLPAR TRI-GEAR CONVERSION OF THE BEECH 18 USING GARRETT TURBOPROP ENGINES AND WITH AN INCREASED MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4234A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Beech D18S
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A-366
- Airframe hours: 11333
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 620 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Saber Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 2, 1988, 35 hours before
- Departed: CLT, CHARLOTTE, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 3WE, Weiss, runway 36, 3,030 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,755 total, 450 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SUS, 15 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 19880618025459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880618025459A), Jun 18, 1988: Beech D18S, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. A broken drag link allowed the main landing gear to collapse during a night landing.

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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