Fairchild SA-226-TC accident near Cleveland, Ohio, August 16, 1988
On August 16, 1988 at about 11:57 am local time, a Fairchild SA-226-TC, registered N322BA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleveland, Ohio (Hopkins airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CAPTAIN'S LATE DECISION TO ABORT AFTER A PROPELLER LINKAGE FAILURE ON THE RIGHT ENGINE AND THE CO-PILOT'S FAILURE TO RELINQUISH ENGINE AND BRAKING AUTHORITY TO THE CAPTAIN RESULTING IN CONFUSION AND INADEQUATE BRAKING TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY AFTER THE ABORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1988 · about 11:57 am local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Ohio · Hopkins
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SA-226-TC · all SA-226-TCs on the register
- Registration
- N322BA · registry record · serial TC-261
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,883 hours in all; 1,744 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 2,234 as pilot in command; 565 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,834 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 4, 1988; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 20
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-10UA (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: YXU London
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23L, 8,998 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from CLE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N322BA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.