# NTSB MIA87IA134: Piper PA-28RT-201, N539FT, Grant, FL, April 16, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 16, 1987, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Grant, FL
- Coordinates: 27.920379, -80.519905 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9204&lon=-80.5199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31793
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87IA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31793/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87IA134

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE CFI CLOSED THE THROTTLE & ANNOUNCED A SIMULATED FORCED LDG. MOMENTS LATER, HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO CLEAR THE ENGINE & FOUND IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. A FORCED LDG WAS THEN PERFORMED IN A FIELD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. A SUBSEQUENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM & RELATED COMPONENTS FAILED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. MINOR REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED TO THE ACFT & IT WAS FLOWN OUT OF THE FIELD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N539FT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N539FT-1989-03-24), registration cancelled 1989-03-24, S/N 28R8218023 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201 (PA-28RT-20)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201) (registry code 7102818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28RP8218023
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: F.I.T. Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 6,400 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 15 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).

- [Incident 19870416012119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870416012119I), Apr 16, 1987: Piper PA28RT201, Fellesmere, FL, Minor damage. Unable to regain engine power after simulation. Suspect a vapor lock. Overran chosen emergency field and hit ditch.

## Other investigations on N539FT (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 MIA88LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA038), Nov 16, 1987: Piper PA-28RT-201 (N539FT), Melbourne, FL, 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.

---
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.