# NTSB MIA80FA096: Piper PA-31, N398GT, Vero Beach, FL, August 28, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 28, 1980
- Place: Vero Beach, FL · VERO BEACH, FL
- Location: 27.6472° N, 80.3931° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vero Beach, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6472&lon=-80.3931&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129510
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA80FA096
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA80FA096

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1863  80/8/28  NR.VERO BEACH,FL      PIPER PA-31         CR-  2  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 2130                    N398GT              PX-  0  0  0  OTHER                     32, 5000 TOTAL HOURS, 40
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED        VERO BEACH,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        REMARKS- MARIJUANA LADEN ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES AND TREE WHILE FLYING OVER REMOTE AREA AT NIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N398GT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- 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 19800828039659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800828039659A), Aug 28, 1980: Piper PA31, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Flying at low altitude at night. Illegal drug operation.

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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