# NTSB MIA86FA085: Piper PA-32-300, N4081R, St. Cloud, FL, February 26, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1986, 23:00 local (Feb 26, 1986, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: St. Cloud, FL
- Location: 28.2489° N, 81.2812° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Cloud, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2489&lon=-81.2812&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31484
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86FA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31484/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86FA085

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, cruise
  - light condition - night
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A VFR FLT, THE WX WAS CLEAR WITH AN ALMOST FULL MOON WHEN THE ACFT CRASHED IN A FLD. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN AIRFRAME, FLT CONTROL SYSTEM, ENG OR PROPELLER MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE AUTOPSY & TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES REVEALED NO PRE IMPACT CONDITION OR ILLNESS THAT COULD HAVE ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE ABILITY OF THE PLT TO OPERATE THE ACFT. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE ACFT CRASHED IN A SHALLOW FLIGHT PATH AT HIGH SPEED. THE PLT WORKED FOR A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY DURING THE DAY & IN AIR TAXI OPERATIONS AT NIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4081R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4081R-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N 32-40396, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40396
- Airframe hours: 3480
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Cherokee Leasing,Inc., doing business as Cherokee Express
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 19, 1986, 20 hours before
- Departed: FLL, FT.LAUDERDALE, FL
- Destination: ORL, ORLANDO, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,380 as pilot in command, 203 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCO, 17 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 19860225003789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860225003789A), Feb 25, 1986: Piper PA32300, Saint Cloud, FL, Destroyed. Impacted the ground in a shallow descent on a late night ferry flight. Had two other day jobs. No malfunction found.

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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