# NTSB MIA90FA106: Piper PA-38-112, N91309, Marco Island, FL, April 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1990, 15:49 local (19:49 UTC)
- Place: Marco Island, FL
- Location: 25.9320° N, 81.7048° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Marco Island, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9320&lon=-81.7048&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32557
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32557/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA106

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO IMPROPER PLANNING & DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, unknown
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT DEPARTED NAPLES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, NAPLES, FLORIDA, VFR ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT AT 1130 HOURS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT THE MARCO ISLAND MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA BETWEEN 1300-1400 HOURS AND DEPARTED AT AN UNKNOWN TIME. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS INITIALLY SPOTTED AT 1700 HOURS IN UNKNOWN BAY, BUT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A SUNKEN BOAT. THE CIVIL AIR PATROL SPOTTED THE AIRPLANE AT 1925 HOURS AND NOTIFIED THE AUTHORITIES, WHO RESPONDED TO THE CRASH SITE. AIRCRAFT RECORDS AND HOBBS METER IN THE AIRPLANE, INDICATE IT HAD BEEN OPERATED 4 HRS & 36 MIN. AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATE FUEL EXHAUSTION AT 4 HRS & 24 MIN. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL AT CRASH SITE OR PURCHASE OF FUEL BY THE PILOT. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE INDICATES INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SPUN TO THE LEFT AND IMPACTED THE WATER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY POWERPLANT, AIRFRAME OR FLIGHT CONTROL FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91309](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91309-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 38-81A0158, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-81A0158
- Airframe hours: 4557
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2A 118 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Todd A. Arthur & Dwayne Dyer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 1990, 56 hours before
- Departed: APF, NAPLES, FL
- Destination: APF, NAPLES, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 168 total, 82 in this make and model, 110 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 123 in the last 30 days, 18 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY, 46 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 19900418011919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900418011919A), Apr 18, 1990: Piper PA38112, Marco Island, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Indicates ran out of fuel on final for landing. Stalled, impacted short of runway in gulf waters offshore.

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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