# NTSB MIA85FA123: Aronson Falco F8L, N545SF, Gainesville, FL, March 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1985, 20:14 local (Mar 17, 1985, 01:14 UTC)
- Place: Gainesville, FL
- Location: 29.6901° N, 82.2718° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GAINESVILLE RGNL (GNV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6901&lon=-82.2718&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31235
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31235/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA123

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, missed approach (ifr)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - performed, pilot in command
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING & FILED AN IFR CLNC, THEN DEPARTED VFR. EXCEPT FOR A HDWND, THE 1ST PART OF THE FLT WAS NORMAL. IN THE VCNTY OF MACON, GA, THE PLT REQUESTED & RECEIVED AN IFR CLNC. LATER, HE ELECTED TO DIVERT TO THE GAINES- VILLE RGNL ARPT & WAS VECTORED FOR AN ILS 28 APCH. WHILE DIVERTING, HE INDICATED SOME CONFUSION CONCERNING THE APCH PLATES; AT 1ST, HE STARTED USING THE GAINESVILLE, GA PLATE, THEN HE SWITCHED TO THE CORRECT PLATE (GAINESVILLE, FL). HE HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING HEADING ON THE ILS & MADE A MISSED APCH 2 MI EAST OF THE ARPT. HE ADMITTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE APCH, DECLARED A LOW FUEL STATE & RECEIVED VECTORS FOR ANOTHER ILS. AGAIN, HE HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING HEADING CONTROL. ON THE 2ND APCH, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO FLY OVER THE FIELD & THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON ANY RWY. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE APCH END OF RWY 6. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF LITTLE MOVEMENT AFTER IMPACT & VERY LITTLE CHORDWISE SCRAPING OF THE PROP. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS OR FUEL INJECTOR LINES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N545SF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N545SF-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 545, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARONSON FALCO F8L
- Registry model: [Aronson David A FALCO F 8L](https://openairdocs.org/model/aronson-david-a-falco-f-8l) (registry code 0566058) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 545
- Airframe hours: 499
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David A. Aronson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: BWG, BOWLING GREEN, KY
- Destination: GNV, GAINESVILLE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GNV, Alachua County Regional, runway 28, 6,503 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 380 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GNV, 1 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 19850316010839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850316010839A), Mar 16, 1985: Aermer FALCOF8L, Gainesville, FL, Destroyed. Crashed while executing third missed approach. Fuel exhaustion and pilot competancy were factors.

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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