# NTSB MIA81FA059: Cessna 337G, N444PL, Vero Beach, FL, March 31, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 31, 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: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 8, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127011
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA81FA059
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81FA059

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0724  81/3/31  NR.VERO BEACH,FL      CESSNA 337G         CR-  2  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 21, UNK/NR
        TIME - 2130                    N444PL              PX-  0  0  0  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED        UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        REMARKS- ACFT CIRCLING AT TREETOP LEVEL DROPPING BALES OF MARIJUANA-JAMAICAN CREW ON BOARD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N444PL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444PL-1983-08-23), registration cancelled 1983-08-23, S/N 33701658, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 337G
- Registry model: [Cessna 337G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337g) (registry code 2075730) (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 19810331013289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810331013289A), Mar 31, 1981: Cessna 337G, Vero Beach, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wing-tip struck ground while dropping bales of marijuana. Airplane then tore up while cartwheeling.

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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