# NTSB MIA89FA146: Piper PA-44-180, N2231M, Fort Pierce, FL, May 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 9, 1989, 11:53 local (15:53 UTC)
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL
- Coordinates: 26.579456, -80.220275 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5795&lon=-80.2203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89FA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32289/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89FA146

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), AND FAILURE OF THE CREW TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM POSSIBLE INTERRUPTION OF FUEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent (cause)
- Loss of engine power, descent - uncontrolled
  - all engines
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS FOR CREW COORDINATION TRAINING & WAS ADMINISTERED BY FLT SAFETY INTL FOR AER LINGUS, A FOREIGN AIRLINE. AN INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & 2 FOREIGN PLTS WERE ABOARD (STUDENTS HAD PREVIOUSLY GOTTEN U.S. CERTS WITH SINGLE/MULTI-ENG RATINGS).BEFORE THE ACDNT, THE ACFT WAS HDG NE. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT IT TURNED EAST WHILE MAINTAINING A CONSTANT ALT OF 3500'. AFTER TURNING EAST, ITS GND SPD SLOWED TO 53 KTS. THE ACFT THEN BEGAN A RGT TURN AT A RATE OF 125 DEG/MIN. AFTER TURNINGSOUTH, THE ACFT'S GND SPD SLOWED TO 37 KTS. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A DSCNT, WHICH INCREASED TO 8000'/MIN. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT SPINNING LEFT, IN A NOSE DWN ATTITUDE, BEFORE IT IMPACTED IN THE OCEAN. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT DRG IMPACT, NEITHER ENG WAS OPERG, FLAPS WERE EXTNDD 10 DEG, MAIN GEAR WAS EXTNDD & THENOSE GEAR WAS IN TRANSIT. THE ACFT MANUFACTURER RPRTD THAT A SPIN MAY CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF FUEL TO THE ENGS BY EXCEEDING THE CARB LIMITATIONS. INTENTIONAL SPINS WERE PROHIBITED. VMC & STALL SPDS WERE 56 & 54 KTS, RESPECTIVELY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2231M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2231M-1989-06-19), registration cancelled 1989-06-19, S/N 447995217 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-7995217
- Airframe hours: 2785
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flight Safety International
- Registered owner: Flight Safety International
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 28, 1989, 36 hours before
- Departed: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,800 total, 600 in this make and model, 4,650 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB, 10 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 19890509011209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890509011209A), May 9, 1989: Piper PA44180, Fort Pierce, FL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Observed in flat spin to water 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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