# NTSB MIA81FA093: Piper PA-28, N8487R, Lakeland, FL, July 12, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 12, 1981
- Place: Lakeland, FL · LAKELAND, FL
- Location: 28.0395° N, 81.9498° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lakeland, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0395&lon=-81.9498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124508
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA81FA093
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81FA093

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2175  81/7/12  NR.LAKELAND,FL        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, 570
        TIME - 1353                    N8487R              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 84 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DOVER,FL                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WITNESSES RPTD ACFT MAKING SEVERAL LOW PASSES TO NEARBY FIELD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8487R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- 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 19810712040629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810712040629A), Jul 12, 1981: Piper PA28140, Lakeland, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft hit tree and crashed. Aircraft had been observed flying low in vicinity previous to accident.

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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