Beech G18S accident near Jacksonville, Florida, June 7, 1983
On June 7, 1983 at about 2:50 am local time, a Beech G18S, registered N5BA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida (Jacksonville airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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
- June 7, 1983 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Jacksonville
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G18S · all G18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N5BA · registry record · serial BA-614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, WHILE ROLLING ON ALL 3 GEAR, THE TAILWHEEL FAILED & STEERED SIDEWAYS CAUSING THE ACFT TO VEER OFF THE RWY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TAILWHEEL TRUSS AXLE HAD FAILED. A FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT 50% OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE WAS RUSTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ACFT HAD RECEIVED A PHASE 3 INSPECTION UNDER THE COMPANIES PROGRESSIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, 26 FLT HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THIS PHASE INSPECTION CALLED FOR INSPECTION & RETRACT TESTING OF THE LANDING GEAR SYS. COMPANY PERSONNEL STATED THAT INSPECTION OF THE TRUSS AXLE WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 4,040 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,745 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 21, 1983; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bo-S-Aire Airlines INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ATL Atlanta GA at 9:10 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 7, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from JAX
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.
Other NTSB records under N5BA 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.