Saturday, May 14, 2022

Cessna 172H Skyhawk, N8845Z: Fatal accident occurred May 14, 2022 in Miami-Dade County, Florida

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Miramar, Florida
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas


Location: Miami, Florida
Accident Number: ERA22FA226
Date and Time: May 14, 2022, 12:51 Local
Registration: N8845Z
Aircraft: Cessna 172H 
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 2 Serious, 5 Minor 
Flight Conducted  Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On May 14, 2022, about 1251 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172H airplane, N8845Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured, two passengers were seriously injured, and five people on the ground received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

On the day of the accident, the pilot departed Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport (X51), Homestead, Florida about 1145, destined for North Perry Airport (HWO), Hollywood, Florida. After landing about 1220, the pilot taxied to a self-serve fuel pump and added about 11.2 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel to the airplane. After loading his passengers, he taxied out and departed at 1238, destined for Key West International Airport (EYW), Key West, Florida.

According to a passenger, he and the other passenger arrived as the pilot was completing the fueling. He observed the pilot use a checklist while were waiting to takeoff. After takeoff, they headed (east) toward the shoreline for local sightseeing. About 15 to 20 minutes later, the pilot called “the tower” and said he had an engine problem and had to return. The passenger did not hear anything wrong with the engine, and though the pilot seemed concerned, he was not panicked. The passenger could not remember anything else.

According to preliminary air traffic control data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration the pilot requested flight following from Miami Approach after takeoff from HWO, with the pilot using the call sign “N5545Z” (instead of “N8845Z”). After establishing radar contact with the airplane, the pilot was instructed to remain below 2,000 ft clear of Class B airspace. At 1248, when the airplane was southbound along Miami Beach about 1,200 ft, the pilot transmitted to Miami Approach: “Miami Approach…Mayday-Mayday-Mayday…54Z, uh
lost engine power …I don’t know where I am going to put this down but I’m going down right here”. The airplane then turned northbound and began losing altitude. When the airplane was about 500 ft, Miami Approach provided the wind speed and direction (180° at 3 knots) and asked the pilot if he had time to provide the number of souls on board and fuel, to which the pilot replied: “There’s three souls, there’s um a road right here…a little bridge, I’m going to make that, 54Z.” This was the last transmission from the pilot.

The airplane touched down on the Herman B. Fultz Bridge which passed over the Haulover Inlet. The bridge was about 1,257 feet long with a deck width of about 56 feet. The edges of the deck were equipped with sidewalks, railings, and streetlights. The bridge was configured with four traffic lanes (two Northbound and two Southbound) which were separated by a raised concrete median. The airplane struck two vehicles before coming to rest on the bridge. Examination of the bridge revealed that the airplane had touched down in a northbound direction with the left main landing gear tire and right main landing gear tire straddling the raised concrete median. It then struck a vehicle from behind on the northbound side, crossed over the median and struck another vehicle from the front which was traveling on the southbound side before it nosed over, and came to rest on the northbound side of the bridge, facing southbound. Measurements of the airplane’s ground path indicated that it traveled about 318 feet after striking the first vehicle until it came to rest.

Images of the airplane prior to touchdown indicated that the propeller was windmilling, the wing flaps were up, and there was no sign of smoke or fire.

After the airplane came to rest, a post-crash fire ensued, which consumed a majority of the cabin and fuselage. During a post-accident examination, the throttle control was found in the full forward position, the mixture control was full rich, and the carburetor heat control was closed. The primer was in and locked. The fuel selector valve handle was destroyed by the post impact fire. The position of the valve was between Both and Right.  Thumb compression and suction were obtained on all cylinders, and spark was produced by both magnetos on all leads. All the bottom spark plugs were normal gray in color, and except for spark plugs No. 1, No. 3, and No. 5, which were oil fouled due to the position of the airplane when it came to rest in an inverted position, all the top spark plugs were normal gray in color.

The fuel strainer bowl contained a small amount of charred debris and was free of any corrosion. When disconnected from the carburetor a small amount of fuel was observed to flow from the line. The carburetor accelerator pump functioned normally, and the inlet screen was clean. The floats were submerged in water and did not exhibit any signs of leakage. There was a small amount of visible corrosion in the carburetor bowl. The oil filter contained some carbon deposits; the oil suction screen was clean.

The wing flap actuator when measured correlated to a flap ups (0°) position. The elevator trim actuator when measured correlated to a 10° trim tab up position. There was no evidence of an inflight fire, and flight control continuity was established from the rudder, elevator, and ailerons to the flight controls in the cockpit. Examination of the fuel providers facility did not reveal any evidence of fuel contamination, or any anomalies with the dispensing system. Additionally, all inspections were found to be up to date.

The wreckage was retained by the NTSB for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna 
Registration: N8845Z
Model/Series: 172H 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KOPF,4 ft msl
Observation Time: 12:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles 
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C /20°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 4400 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 170°
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.96 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Hollywood, FL (HWO) 
Destination: Key West, FL (EYW)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 Serious 
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: 5 Minor
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 2 Serious, 5 Minor 
Latitude, Longitude: 25.900583,-80.124667 

Aircraft experienced engine issues and landed on Route A1A on the Haulover Inlet Bridge and struck a vehicle.

Date: 14-MAY-22
Time: 17:04:00Z
Regis#: N5545Z
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 1
Flight Crew: 1 fatal
Cabin Crew: 2 serious injuries
Ground: 3 minor injuries
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
City: OPA-LOCKA
State: FLORIDA

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290. 


Man arrested for criminal trespass at the Minot Airport International Airport (KMOT)

Minot, North Dakota -  A 42-year-old Minot man was arrested by police early Friday morning after he went through a security exit door and into the gate boarding area of the Minot International Airport.

According to police, officers were sent to the airport initially to deal with a person who was upset about missing a flight.

As they were handling that incident, an airport security alarm went off and a witness told police a man went through a secured area exit door and into the gate boarding area. Officers quickly located the man, who was scheduled for an outgoing flight. He was taken into custody without incident.

Following normal airport security procedures, passengers on the outgoing flight were deboarded and the flight cancelled until the secured area of the airport was searched and cleared.

The man was taken to the Ward County Jail and initially charged with felony criminal trespass. Police say he was not associated with or related to the man upset over missing his flight.

East Hampton "Town" Airport (KHTO) Rules Cover All Things That Fly 🤣





Dan's Papers
By Oliver Peterson
May 14, 2022


The East Hampton Airport, preparing to shut down on May 17 to reopen as a smaller, quieter airport on May 19 with its name changed to East Hampton Town Airport, has issued a second set of new rules to accompany the first set they issued 10 days ago. The first set reduced the number of planes and helicopters allowed to land there. This set of rules is far more extensive.

HOT-AIR BALLOONS

No hot-air balloons will be permitted to land at the airport at any time unless they arrive with presidential candidates on board who, on arrival, intend to give a speech on the runway.

GLIDERS

Gliders are permitted to land at the airport, but only during hours when the airport is closed for the night and people are sleeping.

SPACESHIPS

Aliens arriving in flying saucers from faraway planets will be permitted to land at the airport, but only once a month and only once a year from any particular planet, in order to give all planets an equal opportunity.

SANTA CLAUS

Santa Claus and his sleigh will be permitted to land at East Hampton Town Airport all he wants, but only during the month of December.

SEABIRDS

Sea gulls, hawks, ducks, swans, egrets and shore birds are welcome at the airport at any time except between 1 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Monday.

FLYOVERS

Commercial aircraft bound for London, Paris and Frankfurt flying high in the sky after leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport or LaGuardia Airport but still below 30,000 feet must not come within 10 miles of East Hampton Town Airport except by special permission, which must be requested a week in advance.

JET FIGHTERS

Jet fighters will not be permitted to fly over or land at the airport unless, on an emergency basis, invited to do so by the airport manager.

ANGELS

Angels from on high are welcome to land at East Hampton Town Airport at any time of day or night, but only by requesting to do so at least an hour in advance so the runway can be cleared.

DIRIGIBLES

Dirigibles must be less than 200 feet in length and are permitted to land at East Hampton Town Airport only once a month and then by permission only. A grassy airport with dirigibles was in service for years during World War I at Montauk.

DRONES

Drones are not permitted to land or take off at East Hampton Town Airport under any circumstances. Longtime local residents including several town councilmen recall a time years ago when a drone being operated above Main Street in Sag Harbor to take pictures of the community for a developer crashed into a storefront. Can’t have that.

EAGLES

Bald eagles may not land at the airport, unless for emergencies and then by permission only. These creatures with their 6-foot wingspans are the largest birds in the Hamptons and were in abundance here up until the 1950s when DDT spray caused a major die out. Now they are back. If permission is granted, an alarm will sound to alert visitors of the airport to leash their small dogs, a favorite of the eagles.

PLAGUES OF LOCUSTS

Plagues of locusts will not be permitted to fill the air over the East Hampton Town Airport at any time. But if they do arrive anyway, they must depart during a 10-minute window after having landed or face the consequences.

BLUE ANGELS

The Navy’s acrobatic aircraft are permitted to fly over East Hampton Town Airport at any time so long as they are in formation and give prior notice that they will shortly be doing so.

SEAPLANES

Seaplanes will not be permitted to land at East Hampton Town Airport at any time. The airport is nowhere near the sea and these planes must land in the sea and nowhere else. That’s why they call them that.

BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER

No aircraft will be permitted to make the very loud banging noise that happens when they fly through the sound barrier either way while flying within 20 miles of East Hampton Town Airport.

LIGHTNING

No lightning will be permitted to strike East Hampton Town Airport except between the hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., and then only if they are accompanied by thunder — not that cracking sound.

CICADAS

Flocks of cicadas will be permitted only once every 17 years, and then only if they do not exceed 60 decibels of loudness.

VINTAGE AIRCRAFT

Any aircraft built before 1940 will be permitted to land at the airport on an emergency basis but only when given permission in advance and after emergency ground crews are deployed on the sides of the runways.

IMPORTANT PEOPLE

Important people will be allowed to come and go at any time and in any kind of aircraft they please. But they must be on the approved list kept by the airport manager.

POLLEN

Pollen is not permitted within a quarter mile of the airport at any time except during January, February or March.

CIRCLING THE AIRPORT

No aircraft will be allowed to circle above the airport while waiting for their turn to land for more than 10 minutes. If the circling exceeds 10 minutes, the aircraft must fly off, return and try again, once again waiting their turn at the back of the line.

FIREFLIES

Fireflies are welcome anytime between sunset and sunrise.

FLYING SQUIRRELS

After much debate, the airport was unable to agree on the regulations for flying squirrels. Hopefully, a decision will be decided upon in time for the announcement of still a third set of new rules.

Clip out this article and, for reference, tape it to the inside of your cockpit windshield.