# NTSB MIA90FA067: Piper PA-28-161, N473FT, Sebastian, FL, February 3, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 1990, 10:47 local (15:47 UTC) - Place: Sebastian, FL - Coordinates: 27.779722, -80.480308 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7797&lon=-80.4803&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 July 29, 1991 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 32545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32545/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA067 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE OF THE AA-1A PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE PIPER PA-28 WHICH HAD ENTERED TRAFFIC FIRST. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PA-28 PILOT TO SEE THE AMERICAN AA-1A, WHEN THE AA-1A WAS ON A BASE LEG AND THE PA-28 WAS FURTHER OUT ON FINAL APPROACH. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) FAILURE OF THE AA-1A PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE PIPER PA-28 WHICH HAD ENTERED TRAFFIC FIRST. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PA-28 PILOT TO SEE THE AMERICAN AA-1A, WHEN THE AA-1A WAS ON A BASE LEG AND THE PA-28 WAS FURTHER OUT ON FINAL APPROACH. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED BETWEEN A PIPER PA-28, N473FT, & AN AMERICAN AA-1A, N9486L, AS THE 2 ACFT WERE ON FINAL APCH TO LAND ON RWY 13 AT AN UNCTLD ARPT. BOTH ACFT THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND. THE PLT OF THE AA-1A SURVIVED THE ACDNT, BUT DUE TO INJURIES, HE COULD NOT RECALL DETAILS OF THE OCCURRENCE. THE AA-1A WAS INITIALLY IN LEFT TRAFFIC BEHIND THE PA-28, A CFI (IN TRAFFIC AHEAD OF BOTH ACFT) HEARD THE PA-28 PLT RPRT ON A 1-3/4 MI FINAL APCH. HE THEN HEARD THE AA-1A PLT RPRT ON BASE LEG. THEREAFTER, THE CFI HEARD THE AA-1A PLT RPRT TURNING ON A SHORT FINAL APCH & BECAME AWARE OF A POTENTIAL TRAFFIC CONFLICT. THE CFI THEN SAW THE AA-1A IN A LEFT TURN ON THE RGT SIDE OF THE FINAL APCH PATH, AS IF THE PLT HAD OVERSHOT THE TURN TO FINAL. ALSO, HE SAW THE PA-28 ON FINAL APCH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED. DURING IMPACT, THE PROP & NOSEWHEEL OF THE AA-1A HIT THE EMPENNAGE OF THE PA-28. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED BETWEEN A PIPER PA-28, N473FT, & AN AMERICAN AA-1A, N9486L, AS THE 2 ACFT WERE ON FINAL APCH TO LAND ON RWY 13 AT AN UNCTLD ARPT. BOTH ACFT THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND. THE PLT OF THE AA-1A SURVIVED THE ACDNT, BUT DUE TO INJURIES, HE COULD NOT RECALL DETAILS OF THE OCCURRENCE. THE AA-1A WAS INITIALLY IN LEFT TRAFFIC BEHIND THE PA-28. A CFI (IN TRAFFIC AHEAD OF BOTH ACFT) HEARD THE PA-28 PLT RPRT ON A 1-3/4 MI FINAL APCH. HE THEN HEARD THE AA-1A PLT RPRT ON BASE LEG. THEREAFTER, THE CFI HEARD THE AA-1A PLT RPRT TURNING ON A SHORT FINAL APCH & BECAME AWARE OF A POTENTIAL TRAFFIC CONFLICT. THE CFI THEN SAW THE AA-1A IN A LEFT TURN ON THE RGT SIDE OF THE FINAL APCH PATH, AS IF THE PLT HAD OVERSHOT THE TURN TO FINAL. ALSO, HE SAW THE PA-28 ON FINAL APCH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED. DURING IMPACT, THE PROP & NOSEWHEEL OF THE AA-1A HIT THE EMPENNAGE OF THE PA-28. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N473FT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N473FT-1994-09-19), registration cancelled 1994-09-19, S/N 288216222 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8216222 - Airframe hours: 4986 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D36 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Fl Institute Of Technology - Registered owner: Florida Institute Of Tech. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 1989, 86 hours before - Departed: PBI, PALM BEACH, FL - Destination: X-59, VALKARIA, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: X26, Sebastian Muni, runway 13, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N9486L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9486L-1992-08-03), registration cancelled 1992-08-03, S/N AA1A0286 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-1A - Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA-1A-0286 - Airframe hours: 1704 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cooper, Roger L. - Registered owner: Cooper, Roger L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 1989, 94 hours before - Departed: X26 - Destination: X26 - Airport: X26, Sebastian Muni, runway 13, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N473FT; age 19; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 147 total, 49 in this make and model, 107 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N9486L; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,344 total, 83 in this make and model, 5,115 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 15 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VBR, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19900203001591A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900203001591A), Feb 3, 1990: Piper PA28161, Sebastian, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On final was overtaken and struck from rear by N9486L that overturned final. Was turning back did not see N473FT. - [Accident 19900203001592A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900203001592A), Feb 3, 1990: Gulstm AA1A, Sebastian, FL, Destroyed. Overtook and collided with N473FT that was on final for landing. Impact caused both to crash. Failed to see N473FT. 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.