# NTSB MIA05LA042: Piper PA-28-181, N294PA, Fort Pierce, FL, December 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 6, 2004, 12:43 local (17:43 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.495, -80.368057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4950&lon=-80.3681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60677 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60677/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA042 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The failure of the pilot of the Piper 181 to apply his parking brake when stopped awaiting departure and his failure to maintain a visual lookout resulting in his airplane rolling forward and colliding with the Piper 201 which was awaiting departure. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The failure of the pilot of the Piper 181to apply his parking brake when stopped awaiting departure and his failure to maintain a visual lookout resulting in his airplane rolling forward and colliding with the Piper 201 which was awaiting departure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - engine(s) operating - brakes(normal) - not set, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - engine(s) operating - brakes(normal) - not set, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) Two Piper airplanes were waiting to takeoff on runway 9 when they collided. The student pilot in N294PA, a Piper PA-181, stated that he completed his engine run-up in the designated engine run-up area and then taxied to the holding position for runway 9, at A-4. He brought his airplane to a stop behind N283PA, a Piper PA-201. He stated that he usually sets the parking brake, selects 1,000 engine rpm, and switches off the landing light. He does not remember doing these steps. He does remember holding pressure on the toe-brakes. As he waited, he turned around to look for a bottle of water in the back seat. When he did, he took his feet off the toe-brakes, thinking the parking brake was set. A moment later, while still turned around, he heard a loud bang and felt his airplane shaking. He immediately looked in front of him and saw that his propeller had hit the tail of the 201. The flight instructor on the 201 stated that he and his student had been holding second in line for departure for a few minutes prior to the accident. They felt an impact and their airplane skidded forward a few feet. He opened the cabin door and looked back to see the 181 behind them with the engine stopped, and the propeller spinner buried in the empennage of his airplane. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) Two Piper airplanes were waiting to takeoff on runway 9 when they collided. The student pilot in N294PA, a Piper PA-181, stated that he completed his engine run-up in the designated engine run-up area and then taxied to the holding position for runway 9, at A-4. He brought his airplane to a stop behind N283PA, a Piper PA-201. He stated that he usually sets the parking brake, selects 1,000 engine rpm, and switches off the landing light. He does not remember doing these steps. He does remember holding pressure on the toe-brakes. As he waited, he turned around to look for a bottle of water in the back seat. When he did, he took his feet off the toe-brakes, thinking the parking brake was set. A moment later, while still turned around, he heard a loud bang and felt his airplane shaking. He immediately looked in front of him and saw that his propeller had hit the tail of the 201. The flight instructor on the 201 stated that he and his student had been holding second in line for departure for a few minutes prior to the accident. They felt an impact and their airplane skidded forward a few feet. He opened the cabin door and looked back to see the 181 behind them with the engine stopped, and the propeller spinner buried in the empennage of his airplane. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On December 6, 2004, about 1243 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N294PA, collided with a Piper PA-28R-201, N283PA, while both aircraft were waiting for takeoff on runway 9, at Fort Pierce-St. Lucie County Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida. Both flights were on 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flights. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plans were filed for either flight. The commercial-rated flight instructor and the private-rated dual student on N283PA, and the student pilot on N294PA were not injured. N283PA sustained substantial damage and N294PA sustained minor damage. The flights were originating at the time of the accident. The student pilot in N294PA stated he completed his engine run-up in the designated engine run-up area and then taxied to the holding position for runway 9, at A-4. He brought his airplane to a stop behind N283PA. He stated he usually sets the parking brake, selects 1,000 engine rpm, and switches off the landing light. He does not remember doing these steps. He does remember holding pressure on the toe-brakes. As he waited, he turned around to look for a bottle of water in the back seat. When he did, he took his feet off the toe-brakes, thinking the parking brake was set. A moment later, while still turned around, he heard a loud bang and felt his airplane shaking. He immediately looked in front of him and saw that his propeller had hit the tail of N283PA. The flight instructor on N283PA stated he and his student had been holding second in line for departure for a few minutes prior to the accident. They felt an impact and their airplane skidded forward a few feet. He opened the cabin door and looked back to see N294PA behind them with the engine stopped, and the propeller spinner buried in the empennage of his airplane. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On December 6, 2004, about 1243 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N294PA, collided with a Piper PA-28R-201, N283PA, while both aircraft were waiting for takeoff on runway 9, at Fort Pierce-St. Lucie County Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida. Both flights were on 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flights. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plans were filed for either flight. The commercial-rated flight instructor and the private-rated dual student on N283PA, and the student pilot on N294PA were not injured. N283PA sustained substantial damage and N294PA sustained minor damage. The flights were originating at the time of the accident. The student pilot in N294PA stated he completed his engine run-up in the designated engine run-up area and then taxied to the holding position for runway 9, at A-4. He brought his airplane to a stop behind N283PA. He stated he usually sets the parking brake, selects 1,000 engine rpm, and switches off the landing light. He does not remember doing these steps. He does remember holding pressure on the toe-brakes. As he waited, he turned around to look for a bottle of water in the back seat. When he did, he took his feet off the toe-brakes, thinking the parking brake was set. A moment later, while still turned around, he heard a loud bang and felt his airplane shaking. He immediately looked in front of him and saw that his propeller had hit the tail of N283PA. The flight instructor on N283PA stated he and his student had been holding second in line for departure for a few minutes prior to the accident. They felt an impact and their airplane skidded forward a few feet. He opened the cabin door and looked back to see N294PA behind them with the engine stopped, and the propeller spinner buried in the empennage of his airplane. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N294PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N294PA), registered now, S/N 2843504, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843504 - Airframe hours: 3089 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pan Am Flight Academy - Registered owner: Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: AAIP, November 29, 2004, 40 hours before - Departed: KFPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Airport: KFPR, Fort Pierce/St. Lucie County ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N283PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N283PA), registered now, S/N 2844059, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2844059 - Airframe hours: 3079 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pan Am Flight Academy - Registered owner: Boston Aviation Leasing, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 22, 2004, 49 hours before - Departed: KFPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Airport: KFPR, Fort Pierce/St. Lucie County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N294PA; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 16, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 52 total, 52 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor, aircraft N283PA; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 15, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 1,020 total, 114 in this make and model, 945 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot, aircraft N283PA; age 36; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 29, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 339 total, 2 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KFPR, 1 nm away ## 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 20041206032471A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041206032471A), Dec 6, 2004: Piper PA28181, Fort Pierce, FL, Minor damage. (-23) N283PA was holding short of runway 9 at taxiway A4, N294PA taxied into the tail of N283PA. Damage to N283PA was confined to elevator, stabilator, rudder,… - [Accident 20041206032472A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041206032472A), Dec 6, 2004: Piper PA28R201, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) N283PA was holding short of runway 9 at taxiway A4, N294PA taxied into the tail of N283PA. Damage to N283PA was confined to elevator, stabilator, rudder,… 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.