# NTSB MIA89FA113: Piper Aerostar 600, N77BR, Jacksonville, FL, March 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1989, 22:44 local (Mar 23, 1989, 03:44 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, FL
- Location: 30.4940° N, 81.6878° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at JACKSONVILLE INTL (JAX), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4940&lon=-81.6878&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32283
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89FA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32283/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89FA113

## Probable cause

IMPROPER USE OF THE IFR PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDE PATH, AND HIS FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THE DECISION HEIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR AN ILS RWY 7 APCH. ALSO, HE WAS ADZD OF A DC-9 THAT WAS 4 MI AHEAD & WAS TOLD TO USE CAUTION FOR WAKE TURBULENCE. AS THE ACFT WAS ON FINAL APCH, IT DESCENDED BELOW THE ILS GLIDE SLOPE & SUBSEQUENTLY HIT TREES & CRASHED ABOUT 1.8 MI SHORT OF THE RWY. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENGS WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACDNT. ALSO, THERE WERE NO REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE ILS SYSTEM & IT TESTED NORMAL AFTER THE ACDNT. THE PLT HELD A COMMERCIAL PLT CERTIFICATE WHICH WAS GOOD FOR SINGLE ENGINE LAND ACFT; HIS MULTI-ENGINE PRIVILEGES WERE AUTHORIZED AS A PRIVATE PLT, ONLY. AN NTSB PERFORMANCE STUDY SHOWED THE ACFT WAS 2 MIN & 57 SEC BEHIND THE DC-9. RADAR DATA INDCD THE ACFT DID NOT EXCEED A BANK ANGLE OF 32 DEG & NO EXCESSIVE G-VALUES WERE EVIDENT DRG THE APCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77BR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77BR-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 6006007961193, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER AEROSTAR 600 (AEROSTAR 6)
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-600) (registry code 7106001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6007961193
- Airframe hours: 3891
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1F5 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Top Flight Air Service
- Registered owner: Top Flight Air Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 20, 1989, 14 hours before
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JAX, Jacksonville Intl, runway 7, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,575 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 260 in the last 90 days, 93 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAX, 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 19890322006709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890322006709A), Mar 22, 1989: Piper PA60600, Jacksonville, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck trees and wires on final from ILS approach. Descended below decision height. Approach charts not current.

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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