# NTSB MIA85LA244: Piper PA-28-161, N8015X, Everglades City, FL, September 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1985, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Everglades City, FL
- Location: 25.8601° N, 81.3804° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Everglades City, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8601&lon=-81.3804&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): 31447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA244
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31447/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA244

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - failure,partial (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,cylinder - low compression (cause)
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine assembly,piston - overtemperature (cause)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE RETURNING TO VENICE FROM MARATHON,THE ACFT STARTED TO LOSE POWER. HE SWITCHED TANKS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. HE NOTIFIED FORT MYERS APCH HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS AND WHEN THE POWER DETERIORATED TO 1600 RPM, HE ELECTED TO DITCH THE ACFT IN CHOROLOSEE BAY ABOUT 200 YARDS OFF SHORE IN ABOUT 3 FT OF WATER. AFTER THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE BAY, AN ENG TEARDOWN WAS PERFORMED, IT REVEALED; THE NUMBER ONE CYL INTAKE VALUE WAS TULIPED, THE CYL AND TOP OF THE PISTON WERE CLEAN INDICATING THAT A LOSS OF COMPRESSION AND DETONATION HAD OCCURRED IN THAT CYL, EXPLAINING THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER EXPERIENCED BY THE PLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8015X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8015X-2015-11-19), registration cancelled 2015-11-19, S/N 28-8216079, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8216079
- Airframe hours: 1386
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Venice Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 12, 1984, 36 hours before
- Departed: MTH, MARATHON, FL
- Destination: VNC, VENICE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 713 total, 97 in this make and model, 689 as pilot in command, 169 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY, 50 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 19850904043309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850904043309A), Sep 4, 1985: Piper PA28161, Everglades City, FL, Substantial damage. Ditched in chokolosee bay after power loss. Intake valve was deformed, causing compression loss and detonation.

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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