Beechcraft 60 N7131D

Summary

On 17 October 1993 at about 19:30 local time, a Beechcraft 60 registered N7131D was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 October 1993 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Miami, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Miami International (MIA)

Coordinates

25.8995, -80.2999

Aircraft

Beechcraft 60

Registration

N7131D

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Jacksonville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA94FA008

1 person was seriously injured.

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE/ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS ATTAINED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SUPPLY, LACK OF CONTINUITY IN TWO IGNITION LEADS, LOOSE LEFT MAGNETO ON THE RIGHT ENGINE, AND IMPROPER TIMING OF THE RIGHT MAGNETO ON THE RIGHT ENGINE; TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE A SHOULDER HARNESS PROBABLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEGREE OF INJURY AND DAMAGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ABOUT 21 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLANE CRASHED ON UNEVEN/WOODED TERRAIN ABOUT 10 MI NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE SERIOUSLY INJURED PILOT REPORTED NO RECOLLECTION OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE ACCIDENT. AN A&P MECHANIC, WHO SAW THE PLANE TAKE OFF, STATED IT WAS CLIMBING SLOWLY & THE ENGINES WERE RUNNING SMOOTHLY, BUT THE ENGINES SOUNDED AS IF THEY WERE NOT AT FULL POWER. JUST BEFORE IMPACT, 2 WITNESSES SAW THE PLANE AT LOW ALTITUDE; ONE SAID THAT NEITHER ENGINE WAS OPERATING. EXAM OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED THE FUEL SERVO WAS CONTAMINATED INTERNALLY; 2 OF 12 IGNITION LEADS FAILED CONTINUITY TESTS; & CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE MIXTURE HOUSING AREA. WATER WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT INBOARD LEADING EDGE FUEL CELL. EXAM OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED LEFT MAGNETO WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED; TIMING OF RIGHT MAGNETO(S) 42 DEG BTC (SHOULD HAVE BEEN 20 DEG BTC). INVESTIGATION REVEALED BOTH PROPS AT LOW PITCH, LEFT MAGNETO SWITCHES OFF, RIGHT BOOST PUMP OFF, SHOULDER HARNESS NOT USED, LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION DATED 2/25/92. THIS WAS 1ST FLIGHT IN 5 MONTHS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.