Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warren, Michigan 48091
Thursday, March 10, 1988 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLT WAS AN AIR TAXI CARGO FLT CARRYING TRUCK PARTS. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE TWR ASKED THE PLT IF HE WAS IN DIFFICULTY AND THE PLT REPLIED 'ROGER' AND REQUESTED A CHANGE OF FLT PLAN. THE ACFT WAS SEEN FLYING ERRATICALLY JUST ABOVE THE TREE TOPS. THE ACFT DESCENDED ALMOST VERTICALLY INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE REAR OF ONE HOME WAS IGNITED BY THE IMPACT AND 2 OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE WERE FATALLY BURNED. POST ACC INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO ENG MALFUNCTION BUT THERE WERE DISCREPANCIES IN THE LOAD MANIFEST AND THE ACFT WT & BALANCE. BEFORE TAKEOFF A CO EMPLOYEE WATCHED THE PLT SECURE THE CARGO WITH ROPES NETS & CLIPS BUT DID NOT HELP BECAUSE HE 'DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PLT WAS DOING.' IMPACT 'AMAGE PRECLUDED DETERMINATION OF THE ORIGINAL PLACEMENT AND SECURITY OF THE CARGO AND ANY POSSIBLE SHIFTING PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE NET WEIGHT ON THE CARGO MANIFEST DID NOT INCLUDE THE WT OF THE TRAYS TO HOLD THE PARTS. THIS WAS AN OMISSION OF 150 LBS. CO PERSONNEL SAID NO WT & BALANCE INFO WAS LEFT WITH THEM WHEN THE ACFT DEPARTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/10/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 26
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WARREN
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48091
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1227 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID DET
Elevation of weather observation facility 625
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 2
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1376
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 10 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37493
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N900WP
NTSB Number CHI88FA075
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model E18S
Aircraft Series Identifier E18S
Aircraft Serial Number BA298
Certified Max Gross Weight 10100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 121
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAFAYETTE AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6360 HIGHLAND ROAD
Aircraft Owner City PONTIAC
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48054
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DET
Departure City DETROIT
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 21
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FWA
Destination City FORT WAYNE
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --