- Date
- August 29, 1991, 18:55 local (22:55 UTC)
- Place
- Miami, FL
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N41431Piper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910829037929A
- Case key
- 32758
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to adequately drain the fuel system of water. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to continue the takeoff with a known deficiency. The pilot's selection of a forced landing area was poor in that a better landing area was available.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witnesses reported hearing the engine run rough while on takeoff roll but the flight continued to take off. Shortly after becoming airborne the pilot radioed the tower that he was having engine problems and was executing an off airport forced landing. The airplane was observed to turn to a suitable landing area and initiated a descent. At about 100 ft AGL the airplane banked to the left and turned into a residential area. The airplane crashed into a residence and burst into flames. Examination of the engine revealed evidence of water ingestion. The airplane had not flown for a week and was stored outside. The rainfall the previous week had been heavy.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N41431
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7425238
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Affordable Flight Time
- Departed
- TMB · Miami, FL
- Airport
- Kendall-Tamiami, runway 9L, 5,002 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 90 total · 2 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.