# NTSB MIA88FA001: Piper PA-23-250, N3RP, Everglades City, FL, October 2, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 2, 1987, 06:10 local (10:10 UTC)
- Place: Everglades City, FL
- Location: 25.8601° N, 81.3804° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Everglades City, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8601&lon=-81.3804&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31983
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88FA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31983/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88FA001

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - spiral - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT ATTEMPTED A VFR FLT OVER THE EVERGLADES DURING THE HRS OF DARKNESS. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A SWAMPY AREA AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHILE IN A 90 DEGREE LEFT BANK. THE ACFT DISINTEGRATED ON IMPACT. A CONVECTIVE SIGMET WAS ISSUED ABOUT 25 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE. IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE FLT RECEIVED THE SIGMET INFORMATION. AN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK RANGER PILOT, WHO ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, STATED THAT THE AREA INTO WHICH THE FLT WAS OPERATING WAS DESOLATE, WITH NO GROUND LIGHTS & NO DISCERNABLE HORIZON DURING THE HRS OF DARKNESS. THE SURFACE WX OBSERVATION AT FORT MYERS, ABT 50 MILES NW OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, INDICATED 4,500 FOOT BROKEN CLOUDS AND 7 MILES VISIBILITY. WX SATELLITE PHOTOS INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA WHERE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3RP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3RP-1991-02-19), registration cancelled 1991-02-19, S/N 274597 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-4597
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Applied Mechanical Services,
- Registered owner: Cm Squared, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FMY, FT. MYERS, FL
- Destination: OPF, OPA LOCKA, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,025 total, 240 in this make and model, 950 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY, 50 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 19871002058419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871002058419A), Oct 2, 1987: Piper PA23250, Everglades City, FL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Indicates pilot lost control probably due to disorientation with no ground lights for reference. High speed impact.

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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