# NTSB MIA91FAMS1: Piper PA-24-260, N8938P, Missing, FL, April 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report
- Date: April 24, 1991, 16:35 local (20:35 UTC)
- Place: Missing, FL
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32760
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91FAMS1
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32760/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91FAMS1

## Probable cause

UNDETERMINED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING OR FILE A FLT PLAN BEFORE DEPARTURE. HE HAD A MEETING PLANNED FOR LATER THAT EVENING.  REVIEW OF RECORDED FAA ATC CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PLT REVEALED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF CLEARANCE WAS RECEIVED, NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED.  THE FLT FAILED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT.  THE ACFT HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED. REVIEW OF THE AIRFRAME & ENG LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THE PLT/OWNER PERFORMED PREVENTATIVE MAINT BEYOND THE SCOPE & INTENT OF THE REGULATION.  ACCORDING TO CIVIL AIR PATROL PERSONNEL, THE ACFT WAS SPOTTED 1 HOUR 25 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE AT AN ARPT LOCATED 9 NAUTICAL MILES SSE OF THE DEPARTURE ARPT, PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS.  THE ACFT THEN DEPARTED TO THE NW. SATELLITE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN 4, 26, & 56 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF SHOW NO SIGNIFICANT WX IN THE AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8938P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8938P-1994-06-08), registration cancelled 1994-06-08, S/N 244394 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4394
- Engines: LYCOMING IO540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Murrian, Jack & Evelyn J.
- Registered owner: Murrian, Jack & Evelyn J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1990
- Departed: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,310 total, 1,125 in this make and model, 2,184 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported
- Wind: 70° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 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 19910424016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910424016799A), Apr 24, 1991: Piper PA24260, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Became missing after departing the melbourne,Florida,area at 1635 dst. No trace of aircraft or pilot since.

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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