# NTSB MIA84FA170: Piper PA-38-112, N2552A, St.Petersburg, FL, May 23, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 23, 1984, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: St.Petersburg, FL
- Location: 27.7709° N, 82.6793° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Petersburg, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7709&lon=-82.6793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30996
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84FA170
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30996/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA170

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - aerobatics - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,rough

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PLT DID AT LEAST ONE COMPLETE ROLL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY STATED THAT AFTER ROLLING AT ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE THE WATER & PARALLEL TO THE BEACH, THE ACFT APPEARED TO BANK VERY STEEPLY TO THE LEFT, THEN PITCH DOWN INTO THE WATER. THE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED ON 5/25/84. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY PRE-EXISTING FAULTS OR FAILURES OF THE ENG, AIRFRAME, OR CONTROL SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2552A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2552A-1991-03-22), registration cancelled 1991-03-22, S/N 3878A0753 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-78A0753
- Airframe hours: 2198
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ronald J. Methot
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1984, 29 hours before
- Departed: SPG, ST.PETERSBURG, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 162 total, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 12 nm away

## 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 19840523061079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840523061079A), May 23, 1984: Piper PA38112, St Petersburg B, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crash occurred after aircraft completed one roll at 100 feet above the gluf of Mexico.

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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