# NTSB MIA81FA047: Piper PA-24, N7078P, Vero Beach, FL, February 19, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 19, 1981
- 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: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127415
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA81FA047
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81FA047

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0275  81/2/19  NR.VERO BEACH,FL      PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 1000
        TIME - 2316                    N7078P              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SEBASTIAN,FL                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- CRASHED IN OCEAN.WRECKAGE NOT RECOVERED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7078P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7078P-2013-05-03), registration cancelled 2013-05-03, S/N 24-2230, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (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 19810219007969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810219007969A), Feb 19, 1981: Piper PA24, Vero Beach, FL, Destroyed. Witness observed aircraft pass over a boat at low altitude, then strike the water. Pilot's body recovered.

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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