Skip to content

Atlas / NTSB / MIA95LA041

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event MIA95LA041

1994-12-18 OPA-LOCKA, Florida, United States Airport · OPF None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N89515

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

WACO CLASSIC AIRCRAFT YMF-F5C

Year of manufacture

1998

Engine

JACOBS R755B SERIES (275 hp)

Seats / Engines

3 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19981211

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S AC5A80

Registrant of record

FOCUS AIR LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE STUDENT PILOTS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST AND ASSURE THE DOOR WAS CLOSED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.

Factual narrative

On December 18, 1994, about 0936 eastern standard time, N89515, a Cessna 152, operated by Wayman Aviation Inc. crashed on takeoff attempt at Opa-Locka Airport, Opa-Locka, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The student pilot was cleared for three touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the first takeoff during takeoff roll the student noted the door was open, and he attempted to close it while still continuing the takeoff. The airplane veered left off the runway and crashed into a canal. THE STUDENT PILOT INITIATED HIS FIRST SOLO TAKEOFF ROLL AND NOTED THE RIGHT DOOR WAS AJAR. HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE DOOR. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE GROUND AND IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST IN A CANAL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1994_MIA95LA041.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.