# Accident 20230307001732A: Piper PA-28-161, Winter Haven, FL, March 7, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 7, 2023, 14:02 local time
- Place: Winter Haven, FL
- Airport: Winter Haven Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: 2PQS
- Location: 28.0555° N, 81.7408° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0555&lon=-81.7408&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9221D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9221D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23FA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA142) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230307001732A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 7, 2023 AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A 1988 PA-28-161 PIPER WARRIOR , DEPARTED FROM LAKELAND LINDER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAL) IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA AT APPROXIMATELY 1327 EDT WITH A STUDENT AND AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT ON BOARD. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW TO WINTER HAVEN REGIONAL AIRPORT (GIF), WHERE THE STUDENT BEGAN TRAINING ON POWER-OFF 180 LANDINGS USING A LEFT PATTERN APPROACH. AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 EDT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INITIATED A BASE TURN VIA RADIO CALL FOR RUNWAY 29 AND THEN COLLIDED WITH AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A 1956 PIPER J3C-65 CUB FLOAT PLANE FLYING NORTH TO SOUTH IN A RIGHT PATTERN APPROACH TO JACK BROWNS SEA PLANE BASE (F57). THE COLLISION OCCURRED BETWEEN 500-600 FEET AGL. BOTH AIRCRAFT FELL INTO LAKE HARTRIDGE, EAST OF RUNWAY 29 AT GIF, RESULTING IN FATAL INJURIES TO BOTH THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT ABOARD ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N10510, Piper J3C-65: [Accident 20230307001342A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230307001342A)

## 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 ERA23FA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA142), Mar 7, 2023: Piper PA28 (N9221D), Winter Haven, FL, substantial damage, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of both flight crews to see and avoid each other while operating in the airport environment.

## Other reports on N9221D (2)

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

- [Incident 20071207831879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071207831879I), Dec 7, 2007: Piper PA28161 (N9221D), Venice, FL, Minor damage. (-23) On December 07, 2007, at 10:38 EST, a Piper, N9221D, operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted] sustained minor damage at the Venice Municipal Airport…
- [Incident 19970828024579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970828024579I), Aug 28, 1997: Piper PA28161 (N9221D), Lakeland, FL, Minor damage. Narrative: solo student pilot was practicing take offs and landings in a crosswind when he lost control on touchdown, striking a sign on the side of the runway…

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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