# NTSB MIA93FA082: Piper PA-28-140, N5314S, Kissimmee, FL, March 7, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1993, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Kissimmee, FL
- Coordinates: 28.300994, -81.410095 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3010&lon=-81.4101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33178
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93FA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33178/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93FA082

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO CLIMB AT A HIGH PITCH ATTITUDE AFTER TAKEOFF AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL MUSH CONDITION UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO TAKE OFF 150 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT WITH A CENTER OF GRAVITY FORWARD OF THE FORWARD CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT. ADDITIONALLY, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO SET STABILIZER TRIM FOR TAKEOFF AND HIS FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE STALLED CONDITION AND INITIATE STALL RECOVERY.

## 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
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - elevator trim - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED BY WITNESSES TO BE IN AN UNUSUALLY HIGH PITCH ATTITUDE WHICH SOME WITNESSES DESCRIBED AS A STALLED CONDITION. THE PASSENGERS STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SHAKE BUT THAT THE ENGINE NOISE DID NOT CHANGE. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED IN THE HIGH PITCH ATTITUDE UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE, FLIGHT CONTROLS, OR ENGINE. CALCULATIONS INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 150 OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CENTER OF GRAVITY WAS 2.8 INCHES FORWARD OF THE FORWARD LIMIT FOR THE WEIGHT CONDITIONS. THE STABILATOR TRIM WAS FOUND AT THE 9-DEGREE TAB-DOWN OR NOSE-UP POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL CALLS FOR TRIM NEAR NEUTRAL FOR TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED THREE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS IN THE PAST 90 DAYS REQUIRED BY REGULATIONS TO ACT AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND CARRYING PASSENGERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5314S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5314S-1998-03-30), registration cancelled 1998-03-30, S/N 2826856 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-26856
- Airframe hours: 8565
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joseph V. Fera
- Registered owner: Joseph V. Fera
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 1992, 67 hours before
- Departed: ISM
- Destination: 2RR, LAKE WALES, FL
- Airport: ISM, Kissimmee Municipal, runway 15, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 181 total, 3 in this make and model, 85 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCO, 11 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 19930307004529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930307004529A), Mar 7, 1993: Piper PA28140, Kissimmee, FL, Destroyed. Early liftoff nose high until stall mush to impact. Failed secure. Burned. Over gross weight and behind c g.

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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