# NTSB MIA90IA072: Piper PA-30, N7574Y, Tallahassee, FL, February 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1990, 02:28 local (07:28 UTC)
- Place: Tallahassee, FL
- Location: 30.3968° N, 84.3509° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at TALLAHASSEE INTL (TLH), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3968&lon=-84.3509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32579
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90IA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32579/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90IA072

## Probable cause

PROPER GLIDEPATH NOT MAINTAINED.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER EXECUTING A MISSED APPROACH THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A SECOND APPROACH. DURING THE SECOND APPROACH THE PILOT BECAME FIXATED ON THE INSTRUMENTS ALLOWING HIM TO SINK BELOW THE GUIDE PATH AND NOT PROVIDING AMPLE TIME TO RECOVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7574Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7574Y), registered now, S/N 30-640, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-640
- Airframe hours: 5424
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Academy Airlines
- Registered owner: R.D. Mcswiggan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 1990, 61 hours before
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TLH, Tallahassee

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 23,800 total, 400 in this make and model, 21,600 as pilot in command, 290 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 70° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TLH

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19900219021389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900219021389I), Feb 19, 1990: Piper PA30, Tallahassee, FL. Collided with sequence flashing light while on final approach. Landed without incident.

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.