Detroit Metro Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Romulus, Michigan 48242
Wednesday, March 4, 1987 14:34 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CAPT MADE A STEEP, SHORT, FAST VISUAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY BEHIND A DEPARTING DC-9. THE EVIDENCE INDICATES THE CAPT PLACED THE POWER LEVERS INTO BETA MODE TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY AND MAKE A SHORT FIELD LANDING. AN ASYMMETRIC THRUST CONDITION RESULTED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND THE CAPT COULD NOT RECOVER PRIOR TO IMPACT. IMPACT FORCES WERE SURVIVABLE. HOWEVER, THE FATALITIES WERE ATTRIBUTED TO A POSTCRASH FIRE, LACK OF FIRE-BLOCKING MATERIAL, AND POORLY DESIGNED AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED INCORRECT SPRINGS INSTALLED IN THE PROPELLERS AND HIGHER THAT NORMAL FUEL FLOW SETTINGS. THE EXAMINATION OF THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS INDICATED INEFFECTIVEMANAGEMENT OF BILATERAL TYPE CERTIFICATION BY THE FAA. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, SEE NTSB/AAR-88/08.)

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/4/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1434
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ROMULUS
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48242
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DETROIT METRO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DTW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 639
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DTW
Elevation of weather observation facility 639
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 3
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 9
Injury Total Minor 6
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 7
Injury Total All 22
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1761
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 4 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1515
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34801
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N160FB
NTSB Number DCA87MA022
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CASA
Aircraft Model C-212-CC
Aircraft Series Identifier C-212-CC
Aircraft Serial Number 160
Certified Max Gross Weight 16976
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 25
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Feb 22 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 12918
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIM LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 648 RAVENWOOD DR.
Aircraft Owner City SELMA
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FISHER BROTHERS AVIATION INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8240 STATE ROUTE 309
Operator City GALION
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 44833
Operator Code FBAA
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CLE
Departure City CLEVELAND
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1355
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21R
Runway Length 10501
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --