Douglas DC-3 accident near Miami, Florida, February 17, 1984
On February 17, 1984 at about 5:57 pm local time, a Douglas DC-3, registered N922CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida (Miami Int'L airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 5 people were 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
- February 17, 1984 · about 5:57 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Miami Int'L
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3 · all DC-3s on the register
- Registration
- N922CA · registry record · serial 2204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, THE COPLT ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE IN THE LANDING GEAR DOWNLINE BY PLACING THE LANDING GEAR HYDRAULIC HANDLE IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE COPLT BELIEVED THAT HE CONFUSED THE PROCEDURE & PULLED UP ON THE LANDING GEAR LOCK HANDLE, RATHER THAN PUSHING THE GEAR HYDRAULIC HANDLE DOWN. THIS WOULD HAVE RELEASED THE GEAR MECHANICAL LOCKS. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED. AT THE SAME TIME, HYDRAULIC FLUID & FUMES ENTERED THE COCKPIT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A HYDRAULIC LINE TO THE PRESSURE GAGE HAD FAILED FROM OVER PRESSURE.AFTER REPAIRING THE LINE, THE SYS WAS TESTED & OPERATED NORMALLY.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 109 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,200 lb
- Seats: 33
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1830-92 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from MIA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.