# NTSB MIA87FA250: Commonwealth 185, N92919, St. Petersburg, FL, September 19, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1987, 11:27 local (15:27 UTC) - Place: St. Petersburg, FL - Location: 27.7664° N, 82.6106° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ALBERT WHITTED (SPG), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7664&lon=-82.6106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 31781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31781/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA250 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - visual separation - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual separation - not obtained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE PILOT OF THE COMMONWEALTH ERRONEOUSLY REPORTED HIS POSITON TO THE TOWER FOR LANDING INSTRUCTIONS. HE THEN FAILED TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND COLLIDED WITH A BEECH 23 ACFT THAT WAS ON DOWNWIND TO LAND AT ALBERT WHITTED AIRPORT. BOTH AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE MID-AIR THEN FELL INTO TAMPA BAY ABOUT 1 MILE TO THE EAST OF THE AIRPORT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE PILOT OF THE COMMONWEALTH ERRONEOUSLY REPORTED HIS POSITION TO THE TOWER FOR LANDING INSTRUCTIONS. HE THEN FAILED TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND COLLIDED WITH A BEECH 23 ACFT THAT WAS ON DOWNWIND LEG TO LAND AT ALBERT WHITTED AIRPORT. BOTH ACFT INVOLVED IN THE MID-AIR THEN FELL INTO TAMPA BAY ABOUT 1 MILE EAST OF THE ARPT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N92919](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92919-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 1652, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Commonwealth 185 - Registry model: [Commonwealth REARWIN 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/commonwealth-rearwin-185) (registry code 2370604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1652 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12-F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alexander J. Calabrese - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 1987 - Departed: LAL, LAKELAND, FL - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N2399Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2399Z-2013-04-15), registration cancelled 2013-04-15, S/N M-100, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 23 - Registry model: [Beech 23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-23) (registry code 1151202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-100 - Airframe hours: 2496 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roy E. Lindenmuth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 1986, 31 hours before - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted, runway 18, 2,800 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N92919; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 750 total, 50 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N2399Z; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 120 total, 21 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SPG, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19870919081151A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870919081151A), Sep 19, 1987: Comwth REWN185, St Petersburg, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot gave wrong position reports. Collided with N2399Z in traffic pattern. Not seen by ATC or N2399Z. Fell into bay - [Accident 19870919081152A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870919081152A), Sep 19, 1987: Beech 23BEECH, St Petersburg, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck broadside by N92919 in traffic pattern. Did not see N92919 due to his wrong position reports. Fell into bay. 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.