# NTSB MIA88LA236: Piper PA-60-700P, N69RB, Cocoa Beach, FL, July 25, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 1988, 17:29 local (21:29 UTC)
- Place: Cocoa Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 28.229419, -80.600471 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2294&lon=-80.6005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32220
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88LA236
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32220/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA236

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - thunderstorm,level ii
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

FLT ENTERED NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT WHILE FLYING IN AREA OF LEVEL 1 AND 2 THUNDERSTORMS JUST AFTER PLT HAD CALLED REQUESTING PERMISSION TO DEVIATE AROUND RAIN SHOWERS. A LEVEL 5 THUNDERSTORM WAS PRESENT 8 MILES WEST. THE ACFT DESCENDED AT RATES UP TO 13,800 FEET PER MINUTE. WITNESSES SAW ACFT EXIT BOTTOM OF CLOUDS AT APPROX 4,000 FEET IN A NEAR FLAT ATTITUDE AND ROTATING AROUND THE YAW AXIS TO THE LEFT. ENGINE SOUNDS INCREASED AND DECREASED AS THE ACFT ROTATED AND ALL COMPONENTS APPEARED TO BE PRESENT ON THE ACFT. NO SMOKE OR FLAME WAS VISIBLE. AT APPROX 500 FEET ABOVE THE WATER THE ROTATION STOPPED AND THE NOSE DROPPED TO A 30 TO 70 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ANGLE AND BOTH ENGINES COULD BE HEARD INCREASING IN POWER. BEFORE THE RECOVERY COULD BE COMPLETED THE ACFT STRUCK THE OCEAN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69RB-1991-05-22), registration cancelled 1991-05-22, S/N 608423019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60-700P
- Registry model: [Piper PA-60-700P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-60-700p) (registry code 7106023) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 60-8423019
- Airframe hours: 506
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-U2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Rogers, Robert H.
- Registered owner: Richard L Bird
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 1988, 19 hours before
- Departed: SUA, STUART, FL
- Destination: DCA, WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,150 total, 200 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: COF, 1 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 19880725027879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880725027879A), Jul 25, 1988: Piper PA60700P, Cocoa Beach, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Indicates lost control in a thunderstorm,stalled,entered flat spin recovered too late. Impacted ocean near vertical

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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