# NTSB MIA87LA099: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N39588, Tallahassee, FL, March 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1987, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Tallahassee, FL
- Coordinates: 30.450767, -84.27938 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4508&lon=-84.2794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31865
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31865/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA099

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - flare - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST DUE TO A STRONG WIND GUST CREATED BY THE TREE LINE NEXT TO THE RWY & THE ACFT CRASHED NEXT TO THE RWY. A PLT WHO HAD LANDED JUST PRIOR TO THAT TIME STATED THAT HE HAD SUSTAINED A MOMENTARY LOST OF ACFT CONTROL DURING THE FLARE DUE TO THE SEVERE TURBULENCE CREATED BY THE TREE LINE. SURFACE WIND GUSTS WERE ESTIMATED AS A X-WIND COMPONENT FROM THE RIGHT OF 40 DEGS AT 40 KNTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39588](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39588-1995-10-10), registration cancelled 1995-10-10, S/N 32R7887112 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T (PA-32RT-30)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R7887112
- Airframe hours: 1080
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-51AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Leclair Advertising, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 1987, 45 hours before
- Departed: PFN, PANAMA CITY, FL
- Destination: 68J, TALLAHASSEE, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 68J, Tallahassee, runway 34, 3,250 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,080 total, 36 in this make and model, 5,569 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TLH, 18 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 19870306005349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870306005349A), Mar 6, 1987: Piper PA32RT300T, Tallahassee, FL, Substantial damage. The wing struck the ground during landing. Unforcast winds were gusting to 40 knots.

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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