# NTSB MIA91FA011: Piper PA-28-161, N143FT, Everglades City, FL, October 16, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 15, 1990, 20:30 local (Oct 16, 1990, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Everglades City, FL
- Location: 25.8601° N, 81.3804° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Everglades City, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8601&lon=-81.3804&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32733
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91FA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32733/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91FA011

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND HIS SPATIAL DISORIENTATION DURING A NIGHT TAKEOFF OVER WATER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PLT DEPARTED ON A NIGHT VFR FLIGHT FROM A SPARSELY POPULATED AIRFIELD OVER WATER. VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED, HOWEVER NO NATURAL HORIZON OR SURFACE REFERENCE WAS AVAILABLE. THE ELEVATION OF THE MOON WAS -43.7 DEGREES WITH 7% ILLUMINATION. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE CLIMB TO 125-300 FEET AGL ON A RIGHT CROSSWIND DEPARTURE AND LEVEL OFF. THE AIRPLANE MADE A LEFT TURN DESCENDING IN A 20 DEGREE NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE, RIGHT WING LOW, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND COLLIDED WITH THE WATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N143FT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N143FT-1990-12-26), registration cancelled 1990-12-26, S/N 288216193 (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: 28-8216193
- Airframe hours: 6202
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Naples Air Center, Inc.
- Registered owner: Naples Air Center Inc.
- Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1990, 50 hours before
- Departed: X01, EVERGLADES CITY, FL
- Destination: APF, NAPLES, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 136 total, 9 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: APF, 30 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 19901015046329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901015046329A), Oct 15, 1990: Piper PA28161, Everglades, FL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost horizon reference on night takeoff over water. Impacted water. Cartwheeled.

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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