Fine Air Flight 101

Fine Air Flight 101 was a scheduled cargo flight from Miami International Airport, in Miami, Florida, to Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. On August 7, 1997 the Douglas DC-8 crashed into a road (72nd Avenue) at 28th Street, in Miami near the airport. There were four people on the plane but only three bodies were found hours after the crash.[1] Two people on the ground were reported to be injured.[1] One person was killed while driving a vehicle.[2]

Fine Air Flight 101

The Fine Air Douglas DC-8 that crashed
Accident
Date	August 7, 1997 (1997-08-07)
Summary	Loss of control on take-off due to improper aircraft loading
Site	Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, United States 25°48′1″N 80°18′47″W
Total fatalities	5
Total injuries	2 (on ground)
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Douglas DC-8-61F
Operator	Fine Air
Registration	N27UA
Flight origin	Miami International Airport
Destination	Las Américas International Airport
Occupants	4
Passengers	1
Crew	3
Fatalities	4
Survivors	0
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities	1
Ground injuries	2

The probable cause was the airplane was the cargo being loaded too far to the back of the plane.[3] Combined with an incorrect stabilizer trim setting, the aircraft pitched up too far at takeoff.[3] Witnesses said the plane looked like it was going to flip backwards as it took off.[1] The plane, weighing 141 tonnes (139 long tons; 155 short tons), struggle to an altitude of 544 feet (166 m).[2] Then it fell back to the ground, tail first.[2] When the plane hit the ground it broke apart and caught fire.[2]