# NTSB MIA88LA227: Piper PA-34-200T, N11RJ, St. Petersburg, FL, July 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1988, 13:44 local (17:44 UTC)
- Place: St. Petersburg, FL
- Coordinates: 27.770868, -82.629875 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7709&lon=-82.6299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32215
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88LA227
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32215/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA227

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - propeller feathering - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE 27 YR OLD PLT PURCHASED THE ACFT ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT & HAD RECEIVED HIS MULTI-ENG RATING ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE. HIS TOTAL MULTI ENG TIME WAS ABOUT 35 HRS. NEARING HIS DESTINATION, 1 ENG QUIT. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE OTHER QUIT & THE PLT DITCHED THE ACFT IN TAMPA BAY. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD ABOUT 110 TO 115 GALS OF FUEL WHEN HE LEFT THE TAMPA AREA FOR A FLT TO THE BAHAMAS ISLANDS. HE DID NOT PURCHASE ANY OTHER FUEL DURING THE ROUND TRIP & HE DID SOME MANEUVERING TO AVOID ENROUTE WX. AFTER THE ACFT WAS RAISED FROM THE WATER, ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11RJ-2013-06-11), registration cancelled 2013-06-11, S/N 34-7970002, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7970002
- Airframe hours: 1670
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360EB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Konga, Wayne K.
- Registered owner: Wayne Konga
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 1, 1987, 70 hours before
- Departed: PBI, WEST PALM BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,690 total, 20 in this make and model, 1,510 as pilot in command, 239 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SPG, 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 19880718069849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880718069849A), Jul 18, 1988: Piper PA34200T, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel near destination. Ditched in tampa bay.

## Other investigations on N11RJ (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 MIA86LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA025), Nov 7, 1985: Piper PA-34-200T (N11RJ), St.Petersburg, 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.

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