Cyril E. King Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St. Thomas
Wednesday, March 20, 1985 16:45 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING TAKEOFF WITH A SLIGHT TAILWIND COMPONENT & THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED. LATER, THE PLT REALIZED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/20/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City ST. THOMAS
Event State VIRGIN ISLANDS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00802
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CYRIL E. KING
Event Location Nearest Airport ID STT
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 11
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1700 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID STT
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
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) 1600
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 497
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 20 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27782
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 N49MA
NTSB Number MIA85LA127
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model E18S
Aircraft Series Identifier E18S
Aircraft Serial Number BA-238
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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19
Airframe Hours 13321
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANCIS MCCARTHY JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 10
Aircraft Owner City ST THOMAS
Aircraft Owner State VI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 00801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FOUR STAR AVIATION,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ONE AIR CARGO CENTER
Operator City ST.THOMAS
Operator State VI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 00802
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City SAN JUAN
Destination State PR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 5358
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --