Opa Locka Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Miami Lakes, Florida 33016
Wednesday, January 26, 1983 12:39 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT & A PROSPECTIVE BUYER/PASSENGER WERE ON A LOCAL DEMONSTRATION FLT. PRIOR TO THIS FLT, THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR NEARLY 1 YR. SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 1/12/82, IT HAD BEEN FLOWN ONLY 66 HRS. DURING THE PREFLT, THE PLT FOUND THE FUEL TANKS BETWEEN 1/4 FULL & EMPTY. THE SUMPS WERE DRAINED, THE MAIN TANKS WERE FILLED, THEN THE SUMPS WERE DRAINED AGAIN. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT LEVELED THE ACFT AT 1500 FT IN A CRUISE CONFIGURATION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE LEFT ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, BACKFIRING & LOSING POWER. THE PLT TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT, BUT THE ENG LOST ALL POWER & THE PROP WAS FEATHERED. WHILE RETURNING, THE RIGHT ENG'S CYLINDER HEAD & OIL TEMP BEGAN RISING ABOVE THE RED LINE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT BEGAN LOSING POWER & A WHEELS-UP, FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT BOTH ENGS WERE OUT OF TIME, FIRING WAS INTERMITTENT 1 DISTRIBUTOR BLOCK ON THE LEFT ENG WAS BURNEDDUE TO INCORRECT TIMING. ALSO, THE LEFT TURBOCHARGER GATE WAS STUCK OPEN & THE LEFT FUEL FILTER WAS PARTIALLY CLOGGED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/26/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1239
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MIAMI LAKES
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33016
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 1
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 Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 9
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1247
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID OPF
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 11
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) 450
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20524
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9003Y
NTSB Number MIA83FA064
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 12 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 66
Airframe Hours 5312
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BURT WEECH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7505 GRANT STREET
Aircraft Owner City HOLLYWOOD
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33024
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 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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 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 9
Runway Length 8002
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --