# NTSB MIA89LA053: Pilatus P-2/05, N109PL, St. Augustine, FL, December 19, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1988, 15:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: St. Augustine, FL
- Coordinates: 29.890489, -81.309364 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8905&lon=-81.3094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32372
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32372/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA053

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ignition system,magneto - failure,partial (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER AN EN ROUTE STOP, THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN THE NEWLY ACQUIRED ACFT. SHORTLY AFTER GEAR AND FLAP RETRACTION, THE ENG SUSTAINED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT STATED THAT ALL ENG GAGES APPEARED NORMAL AND A TURN WAS BEGUN IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. MOMENTS LATER, ALL POWER WAS LOST AND A FORCED LDG WAS ATTEMPTED. DURING THE DESCENT, THE ACFT CLIPPED SOME TREES, STRUCK A POWER LINE, AND CRASHED INVERTED INTO A MOBILE-HOME PARK. WITNESSES STATED THE PLT HAD ATTEMPTED TO FLY THE ACFT THE DAY BEFORE, BUT RETURNED DUE TO ENG PROBLEMS. THE SINGLE SHAFT DUAL MAGS WERE ROTATED BY ELECTRIC MOTOR AFTER THE ACCIDENT & ONLY INTERMITTENT SPARKS WERE OBSERVED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N109PL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N109PL), registered now, S/N 600-29, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PILATUS P-2/05
- Registry model: [Oerlikon Armnts PILATUS P-2/05](https://openairdocs.org/model/oerlikon-armnts-pilatus-p-2-05) (registry code 6560100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 600-29
- Airframe hours: 1770
- Engines: ARGUS AS-410-AZ 465 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sherman Aircraft Sales
- Registered owner: Sherman Aircraft Sales
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 28, 1988, 16 hours before
- Departed: SGT
- Destination: PBI, WEST PALM BEACH, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,255 total, 4 in this make and model, 1,840 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 24 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 19881219055139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881219055139A), Dec 19, 1988: Exper PILATUS, St Augustine, FL, Destroyed. Trying to return, lost power on takeoff. Engine quit, hit trees and powerline. Crashed inverted. Magneto failed.

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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