# NTSB ERA21LA123: Piper PA-32-301, N8224H, Homestead, FL, January 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 22, 2021, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Homestead, FL · Everglades National Park - Coordinates: 25.130773, -81.035603 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.1308&lon=-81.0356&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102596 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102596/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102596 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA123 ## Probable cause A total loss of power for reasons that could not be determined, as the airplane was not recovered from the water following the ditching. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, flight instructor, and two passengers departed with full fuel tanks on a short cross-country flight, partially over water. About 40 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 5,500 ft mean sea level, the engine began to lose power. The flight instructor turned on the auxiliary fuel pump and switched fuel tanks but was unable to restore engine power. The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control and ditched the airplane into the water about 1/2-mile from shore. The airplane was not recovered from the water following the accident and was presumed substantially damaged. Given that the wreckage was not recovered from the water, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8224H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8224H-2023-06-06), registration cancelled 2023-06-06, S/N 32-8006060 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301) (registry code 7103207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-8006060 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 4375 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marina Mikes LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2020 - Departed: FMY, Fort Myers, FL - Destination: MTH, Marathon, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; recreational, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 22, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 970 total, 930 in this make and model, 970 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: right; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: MTH, 26 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20210122002309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210122002309A), Jan 22, 2021: Piper PA-32-301, Marathon, FL, Destroyed. The pilot was flying at 5500 ft mean sea level. After about 40 minutes into the flight the engine started spitting and sputtering and then it shut off. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102596. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12011757&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12011468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12024694&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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.