# NTSB MIA89LA026: Piper PA-44-180, N81609, Clearwater, FL, November 11, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 11, 1988, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Clearwater, FL
- Location: 27.9086° N, 82.6865° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ST PETE-CLEARWATER INTL (PIE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9086&lon=-82.6865&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32357
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32357/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA026

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

AS THE STUDENT PLT WAS MAKING A SIMULATED SINGLE ENG APCH, THE INSTRUCTOR'S ATTENTION WAS MOMENTARILY DIVERTED INSIDE THE COCKPIT. WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR LOOKED OUTSIDE AGAIN, THE ACFT WAS LOW & SLOW ON A SHORT FINAL APCH. THE CFI APPLIED POWER TO ARREST THE DESCENT, BUT THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RWY & CONTACTED THE RWY LIP. THERE WAS NO FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINES OR FLT CONTROLS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81609](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81609-1990-02-22), registration cancelled 1990-02-22, S/N 448095022 (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: 44-8095022
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Bay Air Flying Service
- Registered owner: Galbraith Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: PIE, St Petersburg-Clearwater, runway 4, 5,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,300 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE

## 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 19881111050459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881111050459A), Nov 11, 1988: Piper PA44180, St Petersburg-C, FL, Substantial damage. Allowed student to be low and slow on approach. Landed short and gear was severed after hitting runway lip.

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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