# NTSB MIA85LA090: Piper PA-28R-200, N8591N, Merritt Island, FL, February 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1985, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Merritt Island, FL
- Coordinates: 28.320705, -80.679229 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3207&lon=-80.6792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31349
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31349/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA090

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment

## Analysis

PLT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT EMBANKMENT WHILE LANDING. THE ACFT WAS LANDED WITH A RIGHT REAR CROSSWIND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8591N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8591N-1990-12-20), registration cancelled 1990-12-20, S/N 28R7135127 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R7135127
- Airframe hours: 3627
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Timothy C. Loss
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 9, 1984, 22 hours before
- Departed: COI, MERRITT ISLAND, FL
- Destination: COI, MERRITT ISLAND, FL
- Airport: COI, Merritt Island, runway 29, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 11 in this make and model, 219 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TIX, 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 19850207004009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850207004009A), Feb 7, 1985: Piper PA28R200, Merritt Island, FL, Substantial damage. Collided with dirt enbankment after losing directional control on quartering downwind landing.

## Other investigations on N8591N (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC77FHM23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FHM23), Aug 21, 1977: Piper PA-28R (N8591N), Fairfield, NJ, substantial damage

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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