# NTSB MIA87FA062: Piper PA-34, N84136, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, December 27, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1986, 18:38 local (23:38 UTC)
- Place: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.089029, -80.149475 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0890&lon=-80.1495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31744/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA062

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,rough

## Analysis

THE PVT PLT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR 27R ILS APCH AND WAS ON THE LOCALIZER AT 1,600 FT WHEN THE CONTROLLER NOTICED THE ACFT NORTH OF THE LOCALIZER COURSE AND IN A RIGHT TURN HEADED EAST. THE CONTROLLER QUERRIED THE PLT AS TO HIS HEADING AND THE PLT REPLIED, 'EAST, WHICH WAS TO GO?'. THE FLT WAS THEN GIVEN A TURN SO AS TO AVOID ANOTHER ACFT ON THE APCH WHICH THE ACCIDENT ACFT WAS APPROACHING HEAD-ON. THE PLT NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED ANY FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT DROPPED OFF RADAR AND CRASHED INTO THE ATLANTIC IN 800 FT OF WATER. THE NEWLY RATED MULTI-ENGINE PLT HAD BEEN ADVISED BY HIS CFI NOT TO CONDUCT ANY NIGHT IFR OR FLT INTO HEAVY IFR CONDITIONS UNTIL HE GAINED MORE IFR EXPERIENCE. THE WX CONDITIONS WERE NIGHT IFR WITH RAIN, HEAVY TURBULENCE AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA. NEITHER THE ACFT NOR OCCUPANTS WERE RECOVERED FROM THE OCEAN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N84136](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84136-1997-08-20), registration cancelled 1997-08-20, S/N 348133174 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8133174
- Airframe hours: 1010
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alley Cassetty Coal Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1986, 39 hours before
- Departed: AMG, ALMA, GA
- Destination: FLL, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FLL, Ft. Lauderdale Int'L

## 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 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 385 total, 20 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLL, 9 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 19861227072319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861227072319A), Dec 27, 1986: Piper PA34220T, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft impacted the ocean during a night ILS approach. Suspect the inexperienced pilot became disoriented.

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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