Opa Locka Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Miami, Florida 33054
Tuesady, November 10, 1987 10:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PLT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE LEFT ENGINE HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND SAW FLAME SPREADING FROM THE ACCESSORY AREA OF THE LEFT ENGINE TOWARD THE LEFT WING TIP AND THE CABIN. HE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE BY TURNING OFF THE MAGNETOS AND HE AND HIS PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE LEFT WING AND CABIN THEN BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAME. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE IN THE ACCESSORY AREA OF THE LEFT ENGINE AND THE FUEL AND HYDRAULIC LINES IN THIS AREA TO HAVE BEEN BURNED TO ALMOST DESTRUCTION. ADDITIONALLY THE FUEL CAPS IN BOTH WINGS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN WRAPPED WITH RAGS WHICH THE PLT STATED WAS TO PREVENT THEM FROM LEAKING. THE PLT STATED THE LOGBOOKS WERE IN THE AIRCRAFT AND BURNED AND THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER WHO DID THE LAST INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/10/1987
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1050
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MIAMI
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33054
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OPA LOCKA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OPF
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 9
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1040 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID OPF
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
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 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1200
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1712
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 10 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35058
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 3:00PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5086Y
NTSB Number MIA88LA033
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 272106
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 31 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARY ELLEN MUNIM
Aircraft Owner Street Address 477 NW. SPANISH COURT
Aircraft Owner City BOCA RATON
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33432
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MUNIM, MARY ELLEN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 477 NW SPANISH COURT
Operator City BOCA RATON
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33432
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --