# NTSB MIA89LA097: Piper PA-22-135, N3243B, Jacksonville, FL, March 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1989, 21:27 local (Mar 3, 1989, 02:27 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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32403
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32403/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA097

## Probable cause

AN UNSTABILIZED INSTRUMENT APPROACH WHEREIN THE PILOT DESCENDED BELOW THE MDA. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED AN INADEQUATELY EQUIPPED ACFT AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

## 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)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft/equipment inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - comm/nav equipment,glide slope receiver - not installed (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

A VOR APRCH WAS ATTEMPTED AT THE ORIG DEST BUT A MISSED APRCH WAS MADE AT MINIMUMS. PLT DIVERTED TO JAX WHERE HE WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 7 APRCH. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH GLIDESLOPE OR MARKER BCN, BUT ATC PERSONNEL STATED PLT MADE IT APPEAR THAT HE WAS EQUIPPED FOR FULL ILS APRCH. XING ALT AT OM IS 1900 FT; FLT CROSSED OM AT 400-500 FT. AT ABOUT 4.5 MI FROM RWY, FLT CLIMBED TO 900 FT, THEN AT 3.5 MI, DESCENDED TO 600 FT. ATC ADVISED FLT OF RADAR-OBSERVED ALT EXCURSIONS DURING THE APRCH. THE PLT STATED THAT HE GOT ON THE LOCALIZER, TRACKED IT FOR AWHILE, THEN GOT OFF. HE WAS TRYING TO RECAPTURE THE LOCALIZER WHEN HE HIT THE TREES ABOUT 1 MI SHORT OF THE RWY. THE PLT'S BFR HAD EXPIRED 2 MOS PRIOR TO THE CRASH & REVIEW OF HIS LOGBOOK SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH FAR 61.57, RECENT IFR EXPERIENCE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ACFT OR COMPONENTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3243B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3243B-1991-04-16), registration cancelled 1991-04-16, S/N 222073 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-2073
- Airframe hours: 2682
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth J. Pelzar
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1988, 240 hours before
- Departed: OGB, ORANGEBURG, SC
- Destination: CRG, JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JAX, Jacksonville Int'L, runway 7, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,094 total, 701 in this make and model, 1,054 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAX, 2 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 19890302029219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890302029219A), Mar 2, 1989: Piper PA22135, Jacksonville, FL, Destroyed. Struck trees on ILS approach. No marker beacon or glide slope indicator. No biennial or required recent IFR flights

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.