Siai-Marchetti F-260-C accident near Opa-Locka, Florida, March 13, 1994
On March 13, 1994 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Siai-Marchetti F-260-C, registered N260CB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opa-Locka, Florida (Opa-Locka airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ASSURE PROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 1994 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Opa-Locka, Florida · Opa-Locka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Siai-Marchetti F-260-C
- Registration
- N260CB · no longer on the register · serial 303
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS NO. 2 IN A FLIGHT OF 2 FOR LANDING AFTER A SIMULATED AERIAL COMBAT FLIGHT. ON FINAL APPROACH THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A CEMETERY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING THE LANDING. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT TANKS AND THE 'SEE-THROUGH' GASCOLATOR WAS EMPTY.
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: 1,490 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 131 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 1,213 as pilot in command; 388 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,896 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1994; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,430 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Combat USA INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OPF at 6:15 pm
- Destination: OPF Opa Locka FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:18 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.