Fort Lauderdale - Atlantic

The aircraft crashed while maneuvering at low airspeed and altitude right after takeoff. The pilot said the left engine started losing power intermittently at 90 knots. The pilot had rotated the aircraft and tried to continue the takeoff. He was cleared to land on any runway and in attempting a turn with landing gear and partial flaps extended control was lost and a crash occurred. The aircraft flight manual states that if an engine fails below 105 mph the takeoff should be aborted. An on scene examination revealed no evidence to suggest a pre-impact failure or malfunction. Both propellers showed evidence of torsional overload damage. When the engines were further examined the left engine fuel strainer was partially clogged with dirt. During a run-up test the left engine would not develop more than 23 inches hg. At 2,750 rpm and magneto rpm drop was erratic. The engine would not run with the aux fuel boost pump off. The reason for the low power output was a disconnected pressure line for the turbocharger which appeared to have been disconnected for some time. All five occupants were injured, two of them seriously.

Flight / Schedule

Fort Lauderdale - Atlantic

Aircraft

Cessna 411

Registration

N256EL

MSN

411-0242

Year of Manufacture

1967

Date

September 10, 1983 at 07:59 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Fort Lauderdale-Executive Florida

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

26.1960°, -80.1808°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On September 10, 1983 at 07:59 AM, Fort Lauderdale - Atlantic experienced a crash involving Cessna 411, operated by Bertram E. Weech, with the event recorded near Fort Lauderdale-Executive Florida.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft crashed while maneuvering at low airspeed and altitude right after takeoff. The pilot said the left engine started losing power intermittently at 90 knots. The pilot had rotated the aircraft and tried to continue the takeoff. He was cleared to land on any runway and in attempting a turn with landing gear and partial flaps extended control was lost and a crash occurred. The aircraft flight manual states that if an engine fails below 105 mph the takeoff should be aborted. An on scene examination revealed no evidence to suggest a pre-impact failure or malfunction. Both propellers showed evidence of torsional overload damage. When the engines were further examined the left engine fuel strainer was partially clogged with dirt. During a run-up test the left engine would not develop more than 23 inches hg. At 2,750 rpm and magneto rpm drop was erratic. The engine would not run with the aux fuel boost pump off. The reason for the low power output was a disconnected pressure line for the turbocharger which appeared to have been disconnected for some time. All five occupants were injured, two of them seriously.

Aircraft reference details include registration N256EL, MSN 411-0242, year of manufacture 1967.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 26.1960°, -80.1808°.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The aircraft crashed while maneuvering at low airspeed and altitude right after takeoff. The pilot said the left engine started losing power intermittently at 90 knots. The pilot had rotated the aircraft and tried to continue the takeoff. He was cleared to land on any runway and in attempting a turn with landing gear and partial flaps extended control was lost and a crash occurred. The aircraft flight manual states that if an engine fails below 105 mph the takeoff should be aborted. An on scene examination revealed no evidence to suggest a pre-impact failure or malfunction. Both propellers showed evidence of torsional overload damage. When the engines were further examined the left engine fuel strainer was partially clogged with dirt. During a run-up test the left engine would not develop more than 23 inches hg. At 2,750 rpm and magneto rpm drop was erratic. The engine would not run with the aux fuel boost pump off. The reason for the low power output was a disconnected pressure line for the turbocharger which appeared to have been disconnected for some time. All five occupants were injured, two of them seriously.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

4

Estimated Survivors

5

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 5

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Fort Lauderdale - Atlantic

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Cessna 411

Registration

N256EL

MSN

411-0242

Year of Manufacture

1967