Rockwell 112A accident near Vero Beach, Florida, July 10, 1987
On July 10, 1987 at about 8:28 pm local time, a Rockwell 112A, registered N1440J, was destroyed in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida (New Hibiscus airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- July 10, 1987 · about 8:28 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · New Hibiscus · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 112A
- Registration
- N1440J · no longer on the register · serial 440
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKE-OFF, THE RT WING OF THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND ABOUT 1500 FT DOWN THE NORTH-SOUTH RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS RT WING HEAVY AND OPPOSITE AILERON HAD NO EFFECT. SURFACE WINDS AT VERO BEACH, ABOUT 8 MILES EAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE 090 DEGS AT 11 KNTS. THE ACFT WAS TAKING OFF TO THE SOUTH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,615 hours in all; 1,420 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 1,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,010 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: X52
- Destination: OPF Opa Locka FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from VRB, 8 miles away
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.