Cessna C-114A accident near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, September 10, 1983
On September 10, 1983 at about 11:59 am local time, a Cessna C-114A, registered N256EL, was destroyed in an accident near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (Ft.Lauderdale Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1983 · about 11:59 am local time
- Place
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida · Ft.Lauderdale Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-114A
- Registration
- N256EL · no longer on the register · serial 411-0242
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE RIGHT AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PLT SAID THE LEFT ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER INTERMITTENTLY AT 90 KTS. THE PLT HAD ROTATED THE ACFT AND TRIED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF. HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON ANY RWY AND IN ATTEMPTING A TURN WITH LANDING GEAR AND PARTIAL FLAPS EXTENDED CONTROL WAS LOST AND A CRASH OCCURRED. THE ACFT FLT 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 CLOGGEDWITH DIRT. DURING A RUN-UP TEST THE LEFT ENGINE WOULD NOT DEVELOPE MORE THAN 23 INCHES HG. AT 2750 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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,200 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,439 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1983; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Ft.Lauderdale FL
- Destination: ATL Atlantic GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 8, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:59 am from FXE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.
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.