# NTSB MIA96LA026: Piper PA-32-300, N44CQ, Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 1995, 00:48 local (05:48 UTC) - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.090736, -80.150718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0907&lon=-80.1507&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37947 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37947/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA026 ## Probable cause THE PILOTS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR AND MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT FATIGUE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - vasi - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - vasi light/system ## Analysis WHILE MAKING THE NIGHT APPROACH WITH VISIBILITY GREATER THAN 10 MILES, THE PILOT FLEW THE ILS APPROACH TO THE DECISION HEIGHT, AND THEN CONTINUED THE APPROACH VISUALLY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE APPROACH LIGHTS AND SEVERED THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BLAST FENCE AND ADDITIONAL APPROACH LIGHTS BEFORE COMING TO REST SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS POSSIBLY DISTRACTED BY LIGHTS ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY JUST BEFORE THE RUNWAY. HE ALSO SAID THE VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR WAS OPERATING, AND THAT HE WAS FATIGUED FROM A LONG DAY AND 7 HOURS OF FLYING. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 1995, about 0048 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N44CQ, registered to Otto Enterprises, Inc., collided with two fences and the approach lights during approach to runway 9 left at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The flight last departed Savannah, Georgia, on November 22, 1995, about 2200. The pilot stated that the visibility was greater than 10 miles. He was cleared by air traffic controllers to fly the instrument landing system approach to runway 9 left. He flew the approach to the decision height and continued the approach under visual flight rules. He was "possibly" distracted by the street lights on the interstate highway and the approach lights appeared to be the same color as the street lights. The runway lights were set to a low intensity. The aircraft struck the approach lights and the landing gear was sheared off. The aircraft struck another object and then touched down on top of another set of approach lights. The aircraft touched down on the ground and skid to a stop. Examination of the accident site was performed by an FAA inspector. The aircraft first contacted the approach lights mounted on poles in the middle of Interstate 95. Components of the aircrafts landing gear were found on the interstate. The aircraft then collided with a jet blast fence and came to rest short of the approach end of the runway. The pilot told the FAA inspector that the visual approach slope indicator was working. The pilot also told the FAA inspector that he had worked for 2 hours that day and departed Delaware about 1630. He flew for 4 hours to Savannah and then another 3 hours to Fort Lauderdale. He stated his passengers were asleep at the time of the accident and that he was feeling some fatigue. See inspector statement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44CQ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44CQ-1996-09-17), registration cancelled 1996-09-17, S/N 327940134 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7940134 - Airframe hours: 2821 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stanley J. Kozicki - Registered owner: Otto Enterprises, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 1995, 128 hours before - Departed: SAV, SAVANNAH, GA - Destination: FLL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FLL, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, runway 9L, 9,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 880 total, 103 in this make and model, 849 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FLL, 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 19951123038149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951123038149A), Nov 23, 1995: Piper PA32300, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Cleared for ILS approach. Hit approach lights and blast fence landing. Pilot fatigue and late hour factors. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.