# NTSB MIA85IA182: Piper Aztec PA-23-250, N63845, Vero Beach, FL, May 31, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 31, 1985, 13:23 local (17:23 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Location: 27.6556° N, 80.4180° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at VERO BEACH RGNL (VRB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4180&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85IA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31289/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85IA182

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - checklist - not used, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE CFI'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED AS HE ATTEMPTED TO ASSIST ATC WITH SOME RADIO FREQUENCY INFO. WHILE BEING SO DISTRACTED, HE PERMITTED THE STUDENT TO LAND THE ACFT WITH THE GEAR UP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63845](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63845-1991-11-04), registration cancelled 1991-11-04, S/N 277754162 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER AZTEC PA-23-250 (AZTEC PA-2)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 77-54162
- Airframe hours: 7
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flight Safety International
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 23, 1985, 11 hours before
- Departed: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: VRB, Vero Beach, runway 4, 4,975 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 18,600 total, 5,015 in this make and model, 18,385 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19850531065609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850531065609I), May 31, 1985: Piper PA23250, Vero Beach, FL, Minor damage. Landed gear up while instructors attention was diverted.

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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