# NTSB MIA81DLD38: Piper PA-38, N2496C, Merritt Island, FL, May 10, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 10, 1981
- Place: Merritt Island, FL · MERRITT ISLAND, FL
- Location: 28.3092° N, 80.6760° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Merritt Island, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3092&lon=-80.6760&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126648
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA81DLD38
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81DLD38

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1056  81/5/10    MERRITT ISLAND,FL   PIPER PA-38         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1830                    N2496C              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 21, 718 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            186 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MERRITT ISLAND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MERRITT ISLAND,FL           LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           DUAL STUDENT - IMPROPER LEVEL OFF
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2496C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2496C-1993-08-26), registration cancelled 1993-08-26, S/N 3879A0206 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Merritt Island

## 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 19810510027179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810510027179A), May 10, 1981: Piper PA38112, Merritt Island, FL, Substantial damage. Simulated engineout on liftoff. Student failed to lower nose. CFI abrupt throttle action. Flooded engine.

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.