# Accident 20230405006069A: Piper PA-32R-300, Venice, FL, April 5, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 5, 2023, 21:38 local time
- Place: Venice, FL
- Airport: Venice Municipal
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.0672° N, 82.4614° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0672&lon=-82.4614&mi=10
- Aircraft: N635BD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N635BD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23FA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA181) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230405006069A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 05, 2023, AT 2137 EDT, A PIPER PA-32R-300, DEPARTED VENICE AIRPORT RUNWAY 23 UNDER NIGHT VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, WITH 4 PEOPLE ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OF STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO A DARK HORIZON THEN BEGAN A RIGHT TURN AND A RAPID DESCENT INTO GULF OF MEXICO. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DO TO IMPACTING THE WATER AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE PILOT AND 3 PASSENGERS ON BOARD SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.

## 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 ERA23FA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA181), Apr 6, 2023: Piper PA32R (N635BD), Venice, FL, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to initiate a visual flight rules flight into dark night conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation during the initial climb and subsequent steep banking descent into…

## Other reports on N635BD (1)

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

- [Incident 20190716011909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190716011909I), Jul 16, 2019: Piper PA-32R-300 (N635BD), Olive Branch, MS, Minor damage. The pilot was practicing take-offs and langings on runway 18 at olv. On the 4th landing and during the rollout, the nosegear collapsed stiking the propeller…

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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