# NTSB MIA85FA180: Piper PA-34, N3449Q, Loxahatchee, FL, May 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1985, 00:00 local (04:00 UTC)
- Place: Loxahatchee, FL
- Coordinates: 26.730327, -80.319519 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7303&lon=-80.3195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31247
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31247/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA180

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, unknown
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - buzzing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT & PASSENGERS WERE SEEN DRINKING BEER IN A BAR PRIOR TO THE FLT. AFTER THE ACFT TOOK OFF, WITNESSES OBSERVED IT FLYING VERY LOW NEAR A SHORELINE; ONE OF THEM WAS A POLICE OFFICER THAT IDENTIFIED THE ACFT BY ITS REGISTRATION NUMBER. AT APRX 1930, THE PLT MADE A VERY LOW PASS OVER AN ARPT AT HIGH SPEED & AGAINST THE PREVAILING FLOW OF TRAFFIC. NO KNOWN WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACDNT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 3 DAYS LATER WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON A FEDERAL WILDLIFE PRESERVE & CAME TO REST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED AGAINST THE BANK OF A CANAL. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH A HIGH TENSION ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINE AT ABOUT 40 FT AGL, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND. TOXICOLOGY STUDIES BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SHOWED THE PLT'S BLOOD/CHEST FLUIDS HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.09%. TESTS OF THE OCCUPANTS CHEST FLUIDS AT THE FAA AEROMEDICAL CENTER SHOWED ALCOHOL LEVELS OF 0.115% FOR THE PLT, 0.151% FOR THE FEMALE PASSENGER, & 0.085% FOR THE MALE PASSENGER. THE EXTENT OF POSSIBLE PUTREFACTION WAS NO VERIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3449Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 347770229
- Airframe hours: 1928
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Albert Haward III, doing business as Resources Storage Management
- Registered owner: Resources Storage Management
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1985, 20 hours before
- Departed: LNA, LANTANA, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,087 total, 21 in this make and model, 2,043 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 60° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI, 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 19850528021239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850528021239A), May 28, 1985: Piper PA34200T, Loxahatchee, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot intoxicated while flying, buzzed several sites then hit powerlines. Wreckage found in canal 3 days later.

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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