# NTSB MIA91FA208: Piper PA28-151, N41306, Miami, FL, August 29, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1991, 20:45 local (Aug 29, 1991, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Location: 25.7966° N, 80.2741° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from MIAMI INTL (MIA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7966&lon=-80.2741&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32756
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91FA208
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32756/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91FA208

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPORT AGENT TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO RAIN RESULTING IN THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE AGENT'S TRUCK AND THE AIRCRAFT SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR WHICH HAD STOPPED ON THE TAXIWAY TO AWAIT ASSISTANCE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO CONTINUALLY MONITOR FOR ACCIDENTS AND VIOLATIONS THE DRIVING RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES WHO DRIVE ON THE AIRPORT.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating
  - weather condition - rain
  - light condition - night
  - visual lookout - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause)
  - object - vehicle
  - miscellaneous - inadvertent, driver of vehicle (cause)

## Analysis

PILOT BECAME LOST AND STOPPED ON TAXIWAY TO AWAIT ASSISTANCE. GROUND CONTROL SENT RAMP AGENT TO FIND AND DIRECT FLIGHT. AS RAMP VEHICLE TRAVELED EAST ON TAXIWAY IN REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO RAIN AND DARKNESS, IT COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT REAR AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE RAMP VEHICLE AND AIRCRAFT TRAVELED 350 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE PILOT THEN MOVED THE AIRCRAFT FORWARD ANOTHER 340 FEET TO AVOID A FIRE. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE RAMP IS 20 MPH. THE RAMP AGENT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS ON THE AIRPORT AND HAD MANY CITATIONS FOR DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROADS. THE RAMP AGENT HAD BEEN COUNSELED AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN JANUARY 1991 TO SLOW DOWN WHEN DRIVING AND NOT TO OVER DRIVE HER HEAD LIGHTS. THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY ONLY MONITORED EMPLOYEE DRIVER RECORDS FOR A SUSPENDED OR REVOKED LICENSE. IT DID NOT MONITOR FOR ACCIDENTS AND VIOLATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41306](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41306-1992-01-15), registration cancelled 1992-01-15, S/N 287415163 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7415163
- Airframe hours: 3949
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gulf Aircraft Leasing, Inc.
- Registered owner: Gulf Aircraft Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1991, 38 hours before
- Destination: UPPER CAPTIVA, FL
- Airport: MIA, Miami International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,160 total, 250 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 20° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA, 1 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 19910828037279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910828037279A), Aug 28, 1991: Piper PA28151, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Ground vehicle struck aircraft stopped on taxiway. Vehicle sent to guide aircraft. Dark night,heavy rain.

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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