# NTSB MIA90FA145: Piper PA-31, N18PA, Panama City, FL, June 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1990, 05:15 local (10:15 UTC)
- Place: Panama City, FL
- Coordinates: 30.200166, -85.670623 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2002&lon=-85.6706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32562
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32562/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA145

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF POWER ON BOTH ENGINES DURING TAKEOFF AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine
  - fuel system,line - water (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine
  - fuel system (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE TAKEOFF AS A LONG GROUND ROLL, SLOW CLIMB, AND ENGINES NOT SOUNDING NORMAL. THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED INTO TREES. TEARDOWN OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED WATER PRESENT IN THE FUEL INJECTOR LINES OF #1, #3 AND #5 CYLS. #3 NOZZLE PLUGGED. INTAKE VALVES DARK & SOOTY. PISTONS 1, 3 AND 5 HAD CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF DARK CARBON DEPOSITS. TEARDOWN OF RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED EXTENSIVE CARBON BUILDUPS THROUGHOUT. AN ENGINE TEST RUN WAS PERFORMED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE DAY BEFORE ACCIDENT. PERSONNEL FORMERLY EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR PROVIDED WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF ALLEGATIONS PERTAINING TO THE GENERAL CONDITION OF COMPANY AIRPLANES, FALSIFICATION OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS, AND IMPROPER MAINTANANCE PROCEDURES BEING PERFORMED ON COMPANY AIRPLANES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N18PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18PA-1991-05-17), registration cancelled 1991-05-17, S/N 317712068 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7712068
- Airframe hours: 5993
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540F2BD 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Panama Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Panama Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 17, 1990
- Destination: TPA, TAMPA, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,524 total, 600 in this make and model, 7,208 as pilot in command, 346 in the last 90 days, 118 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 10° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PFN, 314 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 19900626022209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900626022209A), Jun 26, 1990: Piper PA31325, Panama City, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Took off on slow climb with engine trailing smoke. Crashed into trees. Possible rich mixture reduce power output.

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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