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FTW89LA041

1989-01-18 · LAREDO, Texas, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport LRD

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PIC'S DISREGARD FOR THE SECURITY OF THE CARGO THAT PERMITTED ITS SHIFT DURING THE TAKOEFF ROLL. THIS RESULTED IN AN AFT CG SITUATION AND A SUBSEQUENT STALL AND LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE ENGINE POWER BY THE CREW AND THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE OF THE CO-PILOT.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 35L, THE CO-PILOT ON THE FLIGHT CONTROLS REDUCED LEFT PROPELLER AND RIGHT ENGINE POWER AT AN ALTITUDE OF LESS THAN 100 FEET AGL. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE TAKEOFF POWER WHILE APPLYING FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL YOKE, BUT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE CARGO MAY HAVE SHIFTED TO THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_FTW89LA041.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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