# NTSB DCA87MA010: Piper PA-23-150, N2185P, Tampa, FL, November 6, 1986 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: November 6, 1986, 07:04 local (12:04 UTC) - Place: Tampa, FL - Location: 27.9475° N, 82.4584° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tampa, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9475&lon=-82.4584&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 2 minor, 20 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 7, 1988 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 15868 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA87MA010.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15868/pdf - Board report AAR8706 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8706.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87MA010 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - not performed - self-induced pressure, pilot in command - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - not performed, pilot of other aircraft - self-induced pressure, pilot of other aircraft - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) AT APRX 0612 EST, AN EASTERN AIRLINE CAPT (OWNER OF PIPER PA-23, N2185P) DEPARTED A RWY NEAR HIS HOME IN VFR CONDS TO COMMUTE TO WORK AT TAMPA, FL. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE CONTACTED A FSS & UPDATED THE WX INFO HE HAD OBTAINED ON THE PREVIOUS EVENING. AT THAT TIME, THE CURRENT TAMPA WX WAS, IN PART: INDEF CEILING, ZERO OBSCD, VIS 1/16 MI WITH FOG, RVR FOR RWY 36L WAS 1000' TO 1600'. BEFORE N2185P ARRIVED, 2 OTR FLTS HAD DIVERTED FM TAMPA DUE TO THE WX BEING BELOW MINS. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT OF N2185P MADE 2 ILS APCHS TO LND. DRG HIS 1ST ATMT, HE MADE A MISSED APCH & ELECTED TO 'GO BACK & TRY IT AGAIN.' WHEN CLRD FOR THE 2ND ILS, THE RVR WAS 600' IN THE TOUCHDOWN AREA & 1000' AT MIDFIELD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THEPA-23 TOUCHED DWN ON A PARALLEL TAXIWAY & COLLIDED WITH BOEING 727, N4743, WHICH WAS BEING TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF. THE 727 CREW DID NOT SEE THE PIPER UNTIL IT WAS APRX 500' AWAY. THE CAPT OF THE BOEING STEERED RGT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE DECISION HEIGHT (DH) & MIN RVR FOR THE APCH WERE 200' & 1800', RESPECTIVELY, FOR CATEGORY A, B & C ACFT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N2185P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2185P-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N 23-794, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-794 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William S. Bain - Departed: 94FL, PINE SHADOWS, FL - Destination: TPA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: Tampa Intl, runway 36L, 11,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N4743](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4743-1996-12-17), registration cancelled 1996-12-17, S/N 19463 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 727-235 - Registry model: [Boeing 727-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-235) (registry code 138408B) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: JT8D-7B - Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Pan American, doing business as Pan American World Airways - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: MIA, MIAMI, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: Tampa Intl, runway 36L, 11,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N2185P; age 56; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,000 total, 80 in the last 90 days - Pilot, aircraft N4743; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15,539 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 3 knots - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19861106086971A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861106086971A), Nov 6, 1986: Piper PA23, Tampa, FL, Destroyed. Descended below dh on the ILS approach. Landed on a taxiway and struck a 727 N4743. Mistook taxiway for the runway. - [Accident 19861106086972A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861106086972A), Nov 6, 1986: Boeing 727235, Tampa, FL, Substantial damage. Was struck on a taxiway by a landing apache N2185P that mistook taxiway for the runway while landing below minimum. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.