# NTSB MIA77FA033: Piper PA-28, N180SP, Tampa, FL, February 20, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 20, 1977
- Place: Tampa, FL · 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: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 20, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157711
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA77FA033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77FA033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0424  77/2/20    TAMPA,FL            PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1912                    N180SP              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  AGE 41, 492 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MACDILL AFB
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ST PETERSBURG,FL            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: ELECTRONIC TOWERS                         LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: OTHER
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           COPILOT - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT CROSS WIND 248-292 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           49                                                      320
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 210MG%. MIXTURE CONTROL FOUND IN LEAN SETTING, VAPOR LOCK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N180SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N180SP-1977-06-24), registration cancelled 1977-06-24, S/N 28-7790272 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Macdill Afb

## 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 19770220008269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770220008269A), Feb 20, 1977: Piper PA28180, Tampa, FL, Destroyed. Plt blood alcohol level 210MG . Mixture control found in lean setting, vapor lock.

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.

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