# NTSB MIA89LA149: Piper PA-28RT-201, N29241, Melbourne, FL, May 18, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 18, 1989, 10:55 local (14:55 UTC)
- Place: Melbourne, FL
- Coordinates: 28.059177, -80.550148 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0592&lon=-80.5501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32434/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA149

## Probable cause

THE INSTRUCTORS DECISION TO ATTEMPT A TAKEOFF IN A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE SITUATION, WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, takeoff - aborted
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, dual student (cause)
  - touch-and-go - attempted, dual student (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not attained, dual student (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE CFI ABORTED THE TAKEOFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFTOFF AND DURING THE ABORT THE ACFT RAN OFF THE RWY END AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE CFI STATED THAT HE FELT THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER. POST ACCIDENT INVEST OF THE ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. THE CFI WAS USING RWY 32 AND THE WIND WAS FROM 080 DEGREES AT 12 KTS. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 1,400 FT. THIS WAS AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT WITH 3 PERSONS ON BOARD INCLUDING ONE STUDENT PLT AND AN OBSERVER PASSENGER. THE TAKEOFF WAS PART OF A STUDENT PLTS TOUCH & GO LNDG. THE CFI STATED THAT THE TAKEOFF OCCURRED NO MORE THAN HALF WAY DOWN THE 4,000 FT RWY BUT HE DID NOT START BRAKING THE ACFT DURING THE ABORT UNTIL 500-600 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT PROCEEDED THRU THE CLEAR ZONE OF THE OVERRUN INTO TREES AT THE END OF RWY 32.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29241](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29241-1999-01-28), registration cancelled 1999-01-28, S/N 28R-7918137 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201 (PA-28RT-20)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201) (registry code 7102818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7918157
- Airframe hours: 4545
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flight Safety Int'L, Inc.
- Registered owner: Flight Safety International
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 9, 1989, 15 hours before
- Departed: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL
- Airport: X59, Valkaria, runway 32, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 700 total, 65 in this make and model, 575 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 15 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 19890518012259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890518012259A), May 18, 1989: Piper PA28RT201, Valkaria, FL, Substantial damage. Student made takeoff. CFI took over and aborted. Ran off end runway into trees. CFI beleived lacked power. No defect

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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