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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 17, 1987 · Piper PA-28-181 · N6505C

Florida City, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 17, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Florida City, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N6505C
Operator
American Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA87FA135

THE STUDENT PLT HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED BY HIS CFI TO CONDUCT A SOLO X-COUNTRY TRAINING FLT UNDER DAYTIME VFR CONDITIONS. HE DEPARTED KEY WEST AT 0330 EDT ON THE RETURN PORTION OF THE FLT. NEITHER HIS CFI NOR HIS EMPLOYER COULD OFFER AN EXPLANATION FOR THE 15 HR DELAY IN DEPARTING. WITNESSES, WHO SAW THE PLT BEFORE TAKEOFF, BELIEVED HE WAS INTOXICATED. ABOUT 45 MIN AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ACFT CRASHED & BURNED IN THE EVERGLADES. ALTHO THE WX WAS CLEAR, THE ACDNT OCCURRED ON A DARK NIGHT IN A SPARSELY POPULATED AREA WITH FEW GROUND LIGHTS. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE IN A STEEP, INVERTED ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. TESTS OF THE PLT'S BLOOD & URINE SHOWED ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.25% & 0.32%, RESPECTIVELY. EVIDENCE OF MARIJUANA WAS DETECTED IN HIS URINE, BUT NONE WAS FOUND IN HIS BLOOD. A MED EXAMINER RPRTD HE HAD ISSUED THE STUDENT A CLASS III MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ON 6/23/86, BUT HE HAD MOVED SINCE THEN & COULD NOT LOCATE THE MED RECORDS. THE FAA RECORD CENTER HAD NO RECORD OF THE MED EXAM.

Full Narrative

THE STUDENT PLT HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED BY HIS CFI TO CONDUCT A SOLO X-COUNTRY TRAINING FLT UNDER DAYTIME VFR CONDITIONS. HE DEPARTED KEY WEST AT 0330 EDT ON THE RETURN PORTION OF THE FLT. NEITHER HIS CFI NOR HIS EMPLOYER COULD OFFER AN EXPLANATION FOR THE 15 HR DELAY IN DEPARTING. WITNESSES, WHO SAW THE PLT BEFORE TAKEOFF, BELIEVED HE WAS INTOXICATED. ABOUT 45 MIN AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ACFT CRASHED & BURNED IN THE EVERGLADES. ALTHO THE WX WAS CLEAR, THE ACDNT OCCURRED ON A DARK NIGHT IN A SPARSELY POPULATED AREA WITH FEW GROUND LIGHTS. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE IN A STEEP, INVERTED ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. TESTS OF THE PLT'S BLOOD & URINE SHOWED ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.25% & 0.32%, RESPECTIVELY. EVIDENCE OF MARIJUANA WAS DETECTED IN HIS URINE, BUT NONE WAS FOUND IN HIS BLOOD. A MED EXAMINER RPRTD HE HAD ISSUED THE STUDENT A CLASS III MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ON 6/23/86, BUT HE HAD MOVED SINCE THEN & COULD NOT LOCATE THE MED RECORDS. THE FAA RECORD CENTER HAD NO RECORD OF THE MED EXAM.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time04:35 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN6505C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAmerican Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-4AM · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 59
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time03:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data