# NTSB MIA87FA234: Piper PA-38-112, N2316D, Vero Beach, FL, August 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 26, 1987, 15:35 local (19:35 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.640199, -80.390151 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6402&lon=-80.3902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA234
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31776/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA234

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, flight instructor(on ground) (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON AN APRX 380 MI SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT FM VERO BEACH (VRB) TO NAPLES (APF), BROOKSVILLE (BKV) & BACK TO VRB. HE THOUGHT HE HAD PLENTY OF FUEL FOR THE FLT & ELECTED TO DEP W/O TAKING A CREDIT CARD (FOR FUEL). WHEN HE LNDD AT APF & BKV, HE DID NOT REFUEL. ON THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT (ALONG A SOUTHEASTERLY ROUTE) FM BKV TO VRB, THE STUDENT CTCD THE VRB FSS & RPRTD HE WAS UNSURE OF HIS PSN & REQD A DF STEER. HE WAS GIVEN A 060 DEG HDG TO THE DESTN ARPT. HE VISUALLY ACQUIRED THE ARPT ENVIRONMENT, BUT BFR ARRIVING, THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE STUDENT TRIED TO GLIDE TO A RWY,BUT WAS UNABLE. HE SELECTED AN OPEN FIELD FOR AN EMERG LNDG. WHILE MNVRG TO LND, HE MOMENTARILY LOST CTL OF THE ACFT AS HE WAS TURNING TO AVOID A 125' TOWER. HE REGAINED CTL AFTER THE ACFT ENTERED A DIVE, BUT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID IMPACTINGTHE GND. THE STUDENT HAD CALCULATED THE TOTAL DISTANCE OF THE FLT AS 280 (INSTEAD OF 380) MI. NEITHER HE NOR HIS CFI NOTICED THE ERROR. SVRL OTHER ARPTS WERE LOCATED ALONG THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2316D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2316D-2011-08-16), registration cancelled 2011-08-16, S/N 38-79A0263, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-79A0563
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flight Safety Int'L, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 6, 1987, 39 hours before
- Departed: BKV, BROOKSVILLE, FL
- Destination: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: VRB, Vero Beach

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 49 total, 49 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB, 2 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 19870826049189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870826049189A), Aug 26, 1987: Piper PA38112, Vero Beach, FL, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel on a solo crosscountry flight. Landed downwind with a high sink rate. CFI had misjudged distance.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.