# NTSB MIA91LA131: Piper PA-28-161, N150ER, Vero Beach, FL, April 30, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 30, 1991, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.720445, -80.389564 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7204&lon=-80.3896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32858
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32858/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA131

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

FAILURE OF THE PA-28 PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER BRAKE PRESSURE, WHILE DIVERTING HIS ATTENTION TO HIS NOTEPAD.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - aircraft parked/standing
  - brakes(normal) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) operating
  - brakes(normal) - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE PILOT OF A PIPER PA-28 (N150ER) WAS HOLDING BEHIND A SOCATA TAMPICO TB-9C (N2816D) WAITING FOR A TAKEOFF CLEARANCE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE  PA-28 TRAVELED FORWARD, UNNOTICED BY THE PILOT, AND ITS PROPELLER CONTACTED THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILATOR OF THE TB-9C.  THE PA-28 PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MUST HAVE RELEASED BRAKE PRESSURE SLIGHTLY AS HE WAS LOOKING AT HIS NOTEPAD.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N150ER (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2841146
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Embry-Riddle Aeronaut. Univ.
- Registered owner: Embry-Riddle Aeronaut. Univ.
- Destination: DAB, DAYTONA BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Muni, runway 11R, 7,296 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N2816D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2816D-2024-12-21), registration cancelled 2024-12-21, S/N 1061 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOCATA TAMPICO TB-9C (TAMPICO TB)
- Registry model: [Socata TAMPICO TB 9C](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tampico-tb-9c) (registry code 8680693) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1061
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Flight Safety International
- Registered owner: Aerospatiale General Aviation
- Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Muni, runway 11R, 7,296 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N150ER; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 145 total, 55 in this make and model, 106 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days
- Pilot, aircraft N2816D; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,634 total, 1,490 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB

## FAA reports on this event (2)

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

- [Accident 19910430013851A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910430013851A), Apr 30, 1991: Piper PA28161, Vero Beach, FL, Minor damage. Holding NR2 allowed aircraft to taxi into holding NR1 N2816D while looking at a map.
- [Accident 19910430013852A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910430013852A), Apr 30, 1991: Socata TB9, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. While holding NR1 was struck from behind by holding NR2,N150ER. Pilot allowed brake release while looking at map.

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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