# NTSB MIA85LA130: Piper PA-25-235, N8773L, Everglades, FL, March 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1985, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Everglades, FL
- Coordinates: 25.490486, -80.510452 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.4905&lon=-80.5105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31375
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31375/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA130

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A FLT OVER THE EVERGLADES AT APRX 500 FT AGL, WHEN THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH & DECREASED TO ABOUT 1200 RPM. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT FUEL SYSTEM BURST BEFORE THE ACFT CAME TO REST & A FIRE ERUPTED. THE PLT EXITED THE ACFT & ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. HE THEN WALKED FOR ABOUT 6 HRS THRU THE EVERGLADES PARK BEFORE BEING RESCUED. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE & WAS ABANDONED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8773L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8773L-2014-11-20), registration cancelled 2014-11-20, S/N 25-5258, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-5258
- Airframe hours: 3271
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2G5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Orlando Cordero
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 1984, 8 hours before
- Departed: X51, HOMESTEAD, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,800 total, 275 in this make and model, 62 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TMB, 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 19850324011209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850324011209A), Mar 24, 1985: Piper PA25, Everglades Ntpk, FL, Destroyed. Partial engine power loss, landed in rough clearing. Fuel tank ruptured, fuel caught fire, aircraft burned.

## Other investigations on N8773L (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 MIA71FKT57](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71FKT57), Apr 26, 1971: Piper PA-25 (N8773L), Miami, FL, 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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