# NTSB MIA98LA225: Piper PA-44-180, N144JR, Vero Beach, FL, August 13, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1998, 19:25 local (23:25 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Location: 27.6556° N, 80.4180° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at VERO BEACH RGNL (VRB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4180&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43697
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA225
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43697/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA225

## Probable cause

The student's improper retraction of the landing gear and the instructor's inadequate supervision.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear retraction on ground, takeoff
  - gear retraction - premature, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

The CFI stated he had taken positive control of the aircraft flight controls on landing rollout from the rated student pilot. He advanced the throttles to initiate a touch-and-go takeoff. The rated student pilot raised the landing gear control lever to the up position without his knowledge. The CFI reached down to retract the flaps when the nose pitched down and the airplane collided with the terrain.

## Factual narrative

On August 13, 1998, at about 1925 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N144JR, registered to Flight Safety International, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed on takeoff from the Vero Beach Municipal Airport, Vero Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot/CFI and rated student pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The CFI stated the rated student pilot had been making touch-and-go landings to runway 11R. While the airplane was on landing rollout, he took positive control of the airplane to demonstrate another takeoff to the rated student pilot. He advanced the throttle levers for takeoff. The rated student pilot raised the landing gear control lever to the up position without his knowledge. He reached down to retract the flaps when the nose pitched down and the airplane collided with the terrain.

Examination of the landing gear assembly by the Director of Maintenance for Flight Safety International stated, " visual inspection of the gear and recent aircraft records would indicate that the gear was working properly and no precrash mechanical failure was evident."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N144JR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N144JR-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 44-7995125, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-44-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7995125
- Airframe hours: 10126
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flight Safety International
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 8, 1998, 22 hours before
- Departed: VRB
- Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Municipal, runway 11R, 7,296 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,042 total, 479 in this make and model, 907 as pilot in command, 133 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB

## 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 19980813029729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980813029729A), Aug 13, 1998: Piper PA44180, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. The CFI stated he had taken positive control of the aircraft flight controls on landing rollout from the rated student pilot. He advanced the throttles to…

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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