# NTSB MIA84LA173: Piper PA-32R-300, N1931H, Venice, FL, April 24, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 24, 1984, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Venice, FL
- Location: 27.1170° N, 82.4152° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Venice, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1170&lon=-82.4152&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31138
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84LA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31138/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84LA173

## Sequence of events

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

- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AFTER BEING FOLLOWED BY U.S. CUSTOMS. THE PLT WAS PICKED UP, BUT WOULD NOT STATE HIS DEPARTURE POINT OR DESTINATION, NOR DID HE SUBMIT A PLT/OPERATIONAL ACFT ACCIDENT REPORT AS REQUESTED BY THE NTSB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1931H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7780205
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Scott D. Gordon
- Registered owner: American Sells
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ, 20 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 19840424014229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840424014229A), Apr 24, 1984: Piper PA32R300, Venice, FL, Destroyed. Aircraft ditched in gulf of Mexico for unknown reasons. U s customs was trailing aircraft at time of ditching.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.