# NTSB GAA18CA559: Piper PA34, N88AG, Miami, FL, September 11, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 11, 2018, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.861944, -80.896942 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8619&lon=-80.8969&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98314 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA559 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98314/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98314 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA559 ## Probable cause The pilot under instruction’s failure to maintain the twin-engine airplane’s minimum control airspeed with one engine inoperative and the flight instructor’s distraction when reconfiguring the airplane following the simulated engine failure, which resulted in no power being available to the left engine and a loss of control during landing when the throttles were advanced to increase airspeed. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 191 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor in the multiengine airplane reported that the pilot under instruction was conducting a simulated instrument approach in visual flight rules conditions. The instructor placed the left engine fuel selector in the "off" position to simulate an engine out, and the pilot under instruction initiated the left engine failure procedure by placing the engine and propeller levers in a simulated feathered zero-thrust configuration. The instructor became distracted by traffic and failed to place the left engine fuel selector back to the "on" position. With full flaps and the landing gear extended and while about 250 ft above ground level, the instructor terminated the simulated instrument approach and instructed the pilot to land visually; however, the airspeed decreased below safe limits, and he instructed the pilot to increase the airspeed. The pilot increased power on both engines; however, the left engine power did not increase, and the airplane rolled to the left about 45°. The instructor took the controls and applied right aileron and rudder, but the airplane settled down in a level attitude in a shallow lagoon on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage bulkheads. The instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor in the multi-engine airplane reported that the pilot under instruction was wearing a view limiting device during a simulated instrument approach in visual flight rules conditions. The instructor placed the left engine fuel selector in the off position to simulate an engine out, and the pilot under instruction initiated the left engine failure procedure placing the engine and propeller levers in a simulated feathered zero thrust configuration. The instructor became distracted by traffic and failed to place the left engine fuel selector in the on position. With full flaps applied and the landing gear extended, about 250 feet AGL the instructor terminated the simulated instrument approach and instructed the pilot to land visually, however, the airspeed decreased below safe limits and he instructed the pilot to increase the airspeed. The pilot increased power on both engines, however, there was no increase in power on the left engine and the airplane rolled to the left about 45°. The instructor came on the controls and applied right aileron and right rudder, but the airplane touched down in a level attitude in a shallow lagoon on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage bulkheads. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88AG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88AG-2025-12-08), registration cancelled 2025-12-08, S/N 34-7450093, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA34 (200) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7450093 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 6698.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wayman Flight Training - Registered owner: My Way Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 23, 2018 - Departed: HWO, Hollywood, FL - Destination: HWO, Hollywood, FL - Airport: TNT, Dade-Collier Training And Tran, runway 09, 10,499 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 73; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 28,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; foreign, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 221 total, 8.5 in this make and model, 72.6 as pilot in command, 22.2 in the last 90 days, 9.6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 23,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KMIA, 32 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 20180911016259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180911016259A), Sep 11, 2018: Piper PA-34-200, Ochopee, FL, Substantial damage. Part 141 operation, operated by American flight Training LLC and owned by my way aviation LLC weston Florida, Piper PA-34-200, N88AG, and serial number:… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98314. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473746&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473747&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.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.