# NTSB MIA90FA022: Piper 601P, N50TR, Fort Myers, FL, November 1, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 1, 1989, 02:05 local (07:05 UTC)
- Place: Fort Myers, FL
- Coordinates: 26.509889, -81.69905 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5099&lon=-81.6990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32534
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32534/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA022

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY FOLLOW THE IFR PROCEDURE AND TO IDENTIFY THE DECISION HEIGHT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, DARKNESS, THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION WITHOUT THE APPROACH LIGHTS, AND TREE(S) IN THE ACCIDENT AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,instrument approach lights - not operating
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, other
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPD MIAMI AT NGT ON AN ON-DEMAND, AIR TAXI FLT TO FT MYERS, FL.  DURING ARRIVAL AT THE DESTN, THE FLT ENCTRD IFR CONDS. THE PLT OBTAINED CLNC FOR AN ILS RWY 6 APCH & WAS TOLD TO RPRT AT THE OUTER MARKER (OM). AT 0152:25 EST, HE RPRTD TO MIAMI CENTER THAT HE WAS OVER THE OM.  THIS WAS HIS LAST TRANSMISSION TO AN ATC FACILITY.  AT ABOUT 0203 EST, HE MADE A TRANSMISSION ON UNICOM FREQ TO INFORM ARPT OPNS PSNL THAT HE COULD NOT GET THE APCH LIGHTS TO OPERATE.  HE WAS ASKED IF HE HAD USED THE PROPER FREQ & HAD KEYED THE MIKE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF TIMES.  THE PLT INDCD THAT HE HAD PROPERLY KEYED THE MIKE; HOWEVER, UNICOM PSNL DID NOT HEAR ANY KEYING OF THE MIKE EXCEPT FOR 2 CLICKS.  THE ACFT CTCD THE GND IN A NRLY LEVEL ATTITUDE & WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED, APRX 1.5 MI SHORT OF RWY 6.  IT THEN SKIDDED ABOUT 90 FT & HIT A TREE BEFORE COMING TO REST.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND WITH THE ACFT, ENG OR APCH/RWY LIGHTS. THE 0149 EST WX AT FT MYERS WAS IN PART:  SKY OBSCURED, VIS 1/4 MI WITH FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50TR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50TR-2013-09-10), registration cancelled 2013-09-10, S/N 61P-0381-125, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 601P
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61P0382225
- Airframe hours: 1881
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-S1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Transcontinental Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 20, 1989, 67 hours before
- Departed: KMIA, MIAMI, FL
- Destination: KRSW
- Airport: RSW, Southwest Florida Rgnl, runway 6, 8,400 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,400 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 6 knots
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KRSW, 125 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 19891101044139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891101044139A), Nov 1, 1989: Piper PA60601P, Fort Myers, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed on ILS approach in thick fog. Pilot had problem activating ground lights.

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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