# NTSB MIA86FA028: Piper PA-32-260, N4862S, Sorrento, FL, November 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 9, 1985, 13:12 local (18:12 UTC)
- Place: Sorrento, FL
- Coordinates: 28.809741, -81.489532 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8097&lon=-81.4895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31472
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86FA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31472/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86FA028

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
  - flight/nav instruments,attitude indicator - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight/nav instruments,heading indicator - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - vacuum system - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing,spar - overload (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS ON A VFR X-COUNTRY AT 9500 FT WITH ATC FLT FOLLOWING.THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT ADVISED ATC THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR & CLIMBED TO 11,000 FT. HE AGAIN AVISED HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR & WAS GOING TO DESCEND. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED BY ATC TO ENTER A LEFT TURN FROM SSE THROUGH NORTH THROUGH WEST, WHERE IT DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCOPE. A PLT WITNESS ON THE GROUND HEARD THE ACFT IN THE CLOUDS AS ENGINE POWER WAS INCREASED & DECREASED, THEN OBSERVED THE ACFT EMERGE FROM THE CLOUD BASE IN A SPIN WITH A PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING MISSING. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A SWAMP KILLING ALL 3 OCCUPANTS.ON THE PREVIOUS DAY, A MECHANIC HAD ADVISED THE PLT THAT THE ENGINE DRIVEN VACCUM PUMP WAS INOP. THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR & HEADING INDICATOR ARE VACCUM POWERED. THE GROUND WITNESS STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS VFR AT GROUND LEVEL WITH THE CLOUD BASE ESTIMATED AT 2000 FT & VISIBILITY AT LEAST 5 MI.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4862S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4862S-2012-12-07), registration cancelled 2012-12-07, S/N 32-1297, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-1297
- Airframe hours: 2193
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: George D. Price, Et Al
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 1985, 87 hours before
- Departed: PFN, PANAMA CITY, FL
- Destination: FPR, FT. PIERCE, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 300 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORL, 19 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 19851109076609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851109076609A), Nov 9, 1985: Piper PA32260, Sorrento, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Knew the day before that the vacuum pump was broken. Flew into clouds, lost control, had inflight airframe breakup.

## Other investigations on N4862S (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 NYC71DFA46](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC71DFA46), Jan 11, 1971: Piper PA-32 (N4862S), Cairo, NY, 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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