# NTSB MIA82FA019: Piper PA-60, N6897X, Sebastian, FL (Atlantic Ocean), December 8, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 8, 1981
- Place: Sebastian, FL (Atlantic Ocean) · SEBASTIAN,FL, AO
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 15, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 122607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA82FA019
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82FA019

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3436   81/12/8 NR.SEBASTIAN,FL       PIPER PA-60         CR-  2  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 0911                    N6897X              PX-  0  0  0  TEST                      45, 8000 TOTAL HOURS, 6
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VERO BEACH,FL               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- PRODUCTION TEST FLIGHT.SPUN INTO OCEAN 16MI OFFSHORE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6897X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6897X-1985-04-18), registration cancelled 1985-04-18, S/N 28-8590038 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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 19811208089359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811208089359A), Dec 8, 1981: Piper 602P, Sebastian, FL, Destroyed. Spun into ocean during production test flight. Cause unknown. Main wreckage and bodies not 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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