# Accident 20230817008199A: Piper PA-28-161, Fort Pierce, FL, August 17, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 17, 2023, 12:06 local time
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: BEJS
- Location: 27.4329° N, 80.5290° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4329&lon=-80.5290&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9855S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9855S) (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: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 1,681 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23FA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA340) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230817008199A

## Narrative

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

WHILE CONDUCTING A PART 141 CHECKOUT TRAINING FLIGHT IN A TRAINING AREA 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT BROKE APART LOSING BOTH ITS WINGS AND THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER BEFORE CRASHING NOSE DOWN INTO A STORAGE STRUCTURE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE WINGS AND STABILIZER WERE FOUND IN A FIELD LESS THAN 1/10TH OF A MILE EAST, WITH A LARGER DEBRIS FIELD TO THE NORTH EAST, CONSISTING OF MOSTLY CABIN INTERIOR ITEMS AND HALF OF THE ENTRY DOOR. UPON INITIAL INVESTIGATION, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE WINGS HAD SIGNATURES INDICATING UPWARD PRESSURE TOWARDS THE FUSELAGE, THE ATTACH POINTS HAVING SHEARED DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE LOAD. THE FUSELAGE WAS INSPECTED AFTER IT WAS PULLED FROM THE STORAGE FACILITY BY THE RECOVERY COMPANY. THE CENTER WING BOX EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF FAILING IN COMPRESSION, WITH THE UPPER, CENTER PORTION HAVING CLEAR FAILURE POINT, WAVES IN THE METAL AT THE END ROOTS, AND NEARLY ALL RIVETS SHEARED OFF THE UPPER CAP. THE NTSB CUT AND TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CENTER BOX FOR METALLURGICAL TESTING. FLIGHT DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAS DESCENDED FROM 4700 FT TO 1600 FT, AND BACK TO 3000 FT WITHIN A SPAN OF 20 SECONDS RIGHT BEFORE THE CRASH.

## 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 ERA23FA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA340), Aug 17, 2023: Piper PA-28-161 (N9855S), Fort Pierce, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The left seat instructor’s intentional maneuvering of the airplane in an aerobatic steep turn for which it was not approved, which resulted in an exceedance of the structural limitations of the…

## Other reports on N9855S (3)

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

- [Incident 20170318003179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170318003179I), Mar 18, 2017: Piper PA-28-161 (N9855S), Fort Pierce, FL, Minor damage. Birdstrike on departure from fpr & returned to fpr and landed without incident.
- [Incident 20120617012419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120617012419I), Jun 17, 2012: Piper PA-28-161 (N9855S), Key Largo, FL, No damage. [privacy data omitted] - Pilot of aircraft N9855S on June 17, 2012. Aircraft N9855S incident #ISO192012053 investigation. In regards to the June 17, 2012…
- [Accident 20020904027799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020904027799A), Sep 4, 2002: Piper PA28161 (N9855S), Graham, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 4, 2002, at 1400 a Piper PA-28-161, N9855S, registered to U.S. Flight academy, LLC., 2020 skylane, denton, Texas, skidded off the left side…

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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