# NTSB MIA89FA174: Piper PA-22-160, N9834D, St. Augustine, FL, June 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1989, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: St. Augustine, FL
- Coordinates: 29.890504, -81.309585 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8905&lon=-81.3096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32296
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89FA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32296/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89FA174

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS CONTINUED TAKEOFF WITH INTERMITTENT ENGINE POWER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - roll/run
  - ignition system - undetermined
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground
- Fire, other

## Analysis

DURING GROUND ROLL, WITNESSES REPORTED ENG DEVELOPING INTERMITTENT POWER. TAKEOFF CONTINUED & AT ABOUT 150 FEET AGL. PLT INITIATED A TURN TO THE LEFT TO RETURN TO THE ARPT.DURING THE TURN ACFT STALLED & CRASHED ON ARPT PROPERTY. PLT WAS REMOVED FROM BURNING ACFT & TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED OF HIS INJURIES. FIRE EXTINGUISHED BY LOCAL FIRE DEPT. EXAM OF ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE FLT CONTROLS. EXAM OF ENG REVEALED NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE FOR THE REPORTED INTERMITTENT POWER. THE IGNITION HARNESS & LT MAGNETO WERE DAMAGED BY FIRE. RT MAGNETO OPERATED NORMALLY, AS DID THE SPARK PLUGS. MAGNETO SWITCH AT ACCIDENT SITE POSITIONED TO THE RT MAG. IT TESTED NORMALLY. FUEL CONTINUITY FROM EACH FUEL TANK TO GASCOLATOR WAS VERIFIED. FUEL LINE FROM GASCOLATOR TO CARBURETOR WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE. EXAM OF CARBURETOR REVEALED FLOAT DESTROYED & PRIMARY VENTURI NOT INSTALLED. IDENTICAL ENG AT MANUFACTURERS FACILITY WITH VENTURI REMOVED FROM CARB REVEALED NO DEGRADATION OF ENG PERFORMANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9834D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9834D-1991-05-29), registration cancelled 1991-05-29, S/N 226725 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-6725
- Airframe hours: 1810
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Carney J. Bryan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 1988, 17 hours before
- Airport: SGJ, St. Agustuine

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 72,906 total, 72,650 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 25 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 19890610015079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890610015079A), Jun 10, 1989: Piper PA22160, St Augustine, FL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Lost control and stalled in climbing turn on takeoff. Crashed and burned. Lab report .77 pentobarbital .008 alcohol

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.