# Accident 20020402020189A: Piper PA23250, Melbourne, FL, April 2, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 2, 2002, 09:00 local time
- Place: Melbourne, FL
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9017° N, 80.7497° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9017&lon=-80.7497&mi=10
- Aircraft: N91FK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91FK-2013-06-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23-250 (registry code 7102308, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA23250
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02FA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020402020189A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) I ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AT 1730 ON 4/4/2002 AND GARY HARRELL OF THE BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TOOK ME TO THE AIRCRAFT IN AN AIRBOAT. THE AIRPLANE WAS IN APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET OF WATER AND THE MAJORITY OF THE WRECKAGE WAS BURIED IN THE MUD AND NOT VISIBLE FROM THE SURFACE. APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET OF THE EMPENNAGE WAS VISIBLE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE EMPENNAGE WAS COMPRESSED DOWN AND NONE OF THE CABIN AREA WAS VISIBLE ABOVE THE MUD. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS FROM A DIKE SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF MELBOURNE, FLORIDA. GARY HAD TALKED TO THE PILOT'S WIFE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED POMPANO BEACH AIRPARK ON TUESDAY MORNING (4-2-02). RECOVERY BEGAN ON FRIDAY (4-5-02) AND THE REMAINS OF THE PILOT WERE REMOVED AT APPROXIMATELY 1200. THE RECOVERY CONTINUED AND AS OF TUESDAY (4-9-02) THE ENTIRE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN RECOVERED. THE WORK CONTINUES AND ALL OF THE RECOVERED PARTS ARE BEING COLLECTED AT THE FT. PIERCE AIRPORT. NTSB AND FAA WILL REVIEW THE WRECKAGE WHEN IT IS ALL RECOVERED. AT THIS POINT THE TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL FACTORS HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA02FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02FA079), Apr 2, 2002: Piper PA-23-250 (N91FK), Palm Bay, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons resulting in the in-flight collision with terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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