# Accident 20170713014439A: Piper PA-44-180, Marineland, FL, July 13, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 13, 2017, 23:00 local time
- Place: Marineland, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: FPQS
- Location: 29.6619° N, 81.2158° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6619&lon=-81.2158&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2173S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2173S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-44-180 (registry code 7104402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 34,830 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA151) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170713014439A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 13, 2017, AT APPROXIMATELY 2300 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-44-180, N2173S, WAS DESTROYED DURING A DESCENT AND SUBSEQUENT INFLIGHT BREAKUP NEAR MARINELAND, FLORIDA.

THE FLIGHT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A PART 91 INSTRUCTIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM KBQK RETURNING TO KOMN.   VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND LIGHT WINDS ALOFT AND AT THE SURFACE PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT.  THE PILOT WAS UNDER FLIGHT-FOLLOWING WITH DAB TRACON, AND HAD REPORTED KOMN IN SIGHT AT ABOUT 22 NM.  THE RADAR TARGET OF N2173S THEN SPIRALED DOWN FROM 5400 MSL.

THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST INVERTED WITHIN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA. THE OUTBOARD PORTIONS OF THE LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS, BAGGAGE DOOR, AND A PORTION OF THE RIGHT STABILATOR WERE LOCATED THROUGHOUT A 0.5-MILE-LONG AND 0.2-MILE-WIDE DEBRIS PATH THAT SPANNED ACROSS WATER AND MARSHLAND NORTHWEST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

THE LOCATED WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED TO A SECURE LOCATION FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION BY THE NTSB.  NO FURTHER INFORMATION HAS BEEN RELEASED AT THIS TIME.

## 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 WPR17FA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA151), Jul 14, 2017: Piper PA 44-180 (N2173S), Marineland, FL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of control in flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.

## Other reports on N2173S (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20070607014639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070607014639A), Jun 7, 2007: Piper PA44180 (N2173S), Lumberton, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) The CFI and student onboard stated: after taking control of the aircraft from [privacy data omitted] (student), [privacy data omitted] (CFI) was unable…
- [Incident 19910520028559I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910520028559I), May 20, 1991: Piper PA44180 (N2173S), Washington, PA, Minor damage. Nose wheel collapsed on landing rollout. Bolt had sheared on drag link. Had excessive play in bushing.

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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