# NTSB MIA86LA024: Piper PA-34-200T, N24MS, Gulf Of Mexico, October 31, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 31, 1985, 08:29 local (13:29 UTC)
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31544
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31544/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA024

## Sequence of events

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

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR WHILE OPERATING IN AN AREA OF LEVEL 3, 4, AND 5 THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORM JUAN. A SEARCH BY THE U. S. COAST GUARD RESULTED IN NO AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE BEING FOUND. THE AIRCRAFT IS MISSING AND THE PILOT IS PRESUMED DEAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24MS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24MS-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N 34-7970302 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7970302
- Airframe hours: 1800
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-EB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 23, 1984, 120 hours before
- Departed: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL
- Destination: CSG, COLUMBUS, GA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 395 total, 100 in this make and model, 310 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 59 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 19851031057289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851031057289A), Oct 31, 1985: Piper PA34200T, Gulf Of Mexico, FL, Destroyed. Disappeared from atcs radar while navigating around thunderstorms. The aircraft is missing, pilot is presumed dead.

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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