Beech 65-80 accident near Opa Locka, Florida, May 8, 1984
On May 8, 1984 at about 2:35 pm local time, a Beech 65-80, registered N741H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opa Locka, Florida (Opa-Locka airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- May 8, 1984 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Opa Locka, Florida · Opa-Locka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 65-80 · all 65-80s on the register
- Registration
- N741H · no longer on the register · serial LD-118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE DID NOT CHECK THE ACFT FUEL VISUALLY PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE USING AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS, THE RIGHT ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT SELECTED CROSSFEED & THE ENG RESTARTED. HE THEN TURNED OFF THE RIGHT FUEL VALVE. DURING A DOWNWIND ENTRY FOR LANDING, BOTH ENGS LOST POWER. THE PLT THEN TURNED OFF THE LEFT FUEL VALVE & BOTH ENG BOOST PUMPS. ATTEMPTS TO GLIDE TO THE ARPT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL & THE ACFT CRASH LANDED OFF THE ARPT. AN INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE AUXILIARY TANKS WERE EMPTY, BUT THE MAIN TANKS CONTAINED 14 GALS EACH. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVES & BOOST PUMP SWITCHES WERE IN THE OFF POSITION.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,010 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 1,741 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IGSO-540-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PBI West Palm Bch FL at 2:09 pm
- Destination: OPF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9L, 8,002 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from OPF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.