2 fatalities

Go-Around Stall Leads to Fatal Crash at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport (N518K)

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On August 13, 1981, a Beechcraft H18 (registration N518K) operated by Joseph P. Navik was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, United States of America during landing or approach. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Stall during a go-around procedure after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. Contributing factors: failed to retract landing gear, misused or failed to use flaps, misjudged distance and speed, overshot approach. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine airplane stalled and crashed during a night go-around at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, killing both occupants. The pilot failed to maintain flying speed, with contributing factors including failure to retract landing gear and misuse of flaps.

Incident

On approach to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport by night, the pilot was completing touch-and-go manoeuvres. The pilot then decided to make a go-around. With the landing gear extended and in full flaps configuration, the twin-engine airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed.

Circumstances

The accident occurred during a night go-around procedure. The aircraft was in a touch-and-go pattern when the pilot initiated a go-around. The landing gear remained down and the flaps were set to full, contributing to the stall.

Probable Cause

According to official findings, the probable cause of the accident was a stall during a go-around procedure after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. Contributing factors were reported as: the pilot failed to retract the landing gear, the pilot misused or failed to use flaps, the pilot misjudged distance and speed, and the approach was overshot.