# NTSB MIA87FA135: Piper PA-28-181, N6505C, Florida City, FL, April 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 17, 1987, 04:35 local (08:35 UTC)
- Place: Florida City, FL
- Coordinates: 25.270389, -80.629486 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.2704&lon=-80.6295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31758/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA135

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED BY HIS CFI TO CONDUCT A SOLO X-COUNTRY TRAINING FLT UNDER DAYTIME VFR CONDITIONS. HE DEPARTED KEY WEST AT 0330 EDT ON THE RETURN PORTION OF THE FLT. NEITHER HIS CFI NOR HIS EMPLOYER COULD OFFER AN EXPLANATION FOR THE 15 HR DELAY IN DEPARTING. WITNESSES, WHO SAW THE PLT BEFORE TAKEOFF, BELIEVED HE WAS INTOXICATED. ABOUT 45 MIN AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ACFT CRASHED & BURNED IN THE EVERGLADES. ALTHO THE WX WAS CLEAR, THE ACDNT OCCURRED ON A DARK NIGHT IN A SPARSELY POPULATED AREA WITH FEW GROUND LIGHTS. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE IN A STEEP, INVERTED ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. TESTS OF THE PLT'S BLOOD & URINE SHOWED ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.25% & 0.32%, RESPECTIVELY. EVIDENCE OF MARIJUANA WAS DETECTED IN HIS URINE, BUT NONE WAS FOUND IN HIS BLOOD. A MED EXAMINER RPRTD HE HAD ISSUED THE STUDENT A CLASS III MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ON 6/23/86, BUT HE HAD MOVED SINCE THEN & COULD NOT LOCATE THE MED RECORDS. THE FAA RECORD CENTER HAD NO RECORD OF THE MED EXAM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6505C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6505C-1990-09-04), registration cancelled 1990-09-04, S/N 287890378 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287890378
- Airframe hours: 1672
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-4AM 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: American Aviation,Inc.
- Registered owner: America Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1987, 7 hours before
- Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL
- Destination: BKV, BROOKSVILLE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 55 total, 6 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TMB, 20 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 19870417010059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870417010059A), Apr 17, 1987: Piper PA28181, Florida City, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted swamp at night during solo student crosscountry. Pilot was intoxicated. Student permit not processed.

## Other investigations on N6505C (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 OAK79DVG38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79DVG38), May 14, 1979: Piper PA-28 (N6505C), Napa, CA, 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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