Globe GC1B accident near Miami, Florida, April 25, 1983
On April 25, 1983 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Globe GC1B, registered N81MA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida (Tamiami airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- April 25, 1983 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Tamiami · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC1B · all GC1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N81MA · registry record · serial 1183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT GROUNDLOOPED AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR AFTER THE RT BRAKE FAILED DURING TAXI FROM LANDING. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD INSTALLED NEW BRAKE PADS AND HAD SPENT TIME TAXIING TO WEAR THEM IN. AFTER COMPLETING ONE TAKEOFF AND LANDING THEACFT WAS BEING TAXIED TO THE RAMP WHEN THE RT BRAKE LOST PRESSURE. THE PILOT STATES THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE LANDING GEAR SHOULD HAVE STOOD THE LOAD OF A GROUND LOOP. THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF REPLACEMENT SIDE BRACES WHICH APPEAR TO BE HOME MADE. THE ORIGINAL BRACES WERE SOLID ONE PIECE CASTINGS. THE BRACES IN USE WERE TWO PIECES WELDED TOGETHER. THE BRACES FAILED AT THE WELDS. THE PILOT DOES NOT KNOW THE ORIGIN OF THE BRACES. THEY WERE ON THE ACFT WHEN HE BOUGHT IT. THE ACFT IS 1946 VINTAGE AND MANY PARTS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
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: 572 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 399 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1983; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from TMB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.