# NTSB MIA80FLD66: Piper PA-32, N7722J, Tampa, FL, May 8, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 8, 1980
- 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: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131385
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA80FLD66
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA80FLD66

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0998   80/5/8    TAMPA,FL            PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 998
        TIME - 1245                    N7722J              PX-  0  0  2  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 77 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - VANDENBERG
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TAMPA,FL                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - *ERROR-INVALID CODE*
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FIRE IN ENGINE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- DRG FLT AFTER STARTER RPLCMNT,PROP ADJMNT,ENG CLEANING,FIRE OBSD FM ENG COWLING,THEN ENG PWR LOSS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7722J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7722J-2013-02-26), registration cancelled 2013-02-26, S/N 32-1124, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Vandenberg

## 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 19800508013359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800508013359A), May 8, 1980: Piper PA32260, Tampa, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit on final. Ditched in canal. Found airplane had intense engine fire before ditching. Unknown origin.

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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