# NTSB MIA79FA053: Piper PA-23, N5861Y, St Petersburg, FL, February 25, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 25, 1979
- Place: St Petersburg, FL · ST PETERSBURG, FL
- Location: 27.7709° N, 82.6793° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Petersburg, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7709&lon=-82.6793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 13, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136375
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA79FA053
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA053

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3079  79/2/25  NR.ST PETERSBURG,FL   PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 64, 1600
        TIME - 1250                    N5861Y              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TAMPA,FL                    BIRMINGHAM,AL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- AUTOPSY SHOWED MODERATELY SEVERE ARTERIOSCLEROSIS FOR PLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5861Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5861Y-1980-12-16), registration cancelled 1980-12-16, S/N 27-3014, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790225042119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790225042119A), Feb 25, 1979: Piper PA23250, Clearwater, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot reported problem with autopilot before crash. Autopilot off at impact. Found some defects in autopilot

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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