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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

December 27, 1986 · Piper PA-34 · N84136

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 27, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-34
Tail Number
N84136
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA87FA062

THE PVT PLT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR 27R ILS APCH AND WAS ON THE LOCALIZER AT 1,600 FT WHEN THE CONTROLLER NOTICED THE ACFT NORTH OF THE LOCALIZER COURSE AND IN A RIGHT TURN HEADED EAST. THE CONTROLLER QUERRIED THE PLT AS TO HIS HEADING AND THE PLT REPLIED, 'EAST, WHICH WAS TO GO?'. THE FLT WAS THEN GIVEN A TURN SO AS TO AVOID ANOTHER ACFT ON THE APCH WHICH THE ACCIDENT ACFT WAS APPROACHING HEAD-ON. THE PLT NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED ANY FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT DROPPED OFF RADAR AND CRASHED INTO THE ATLANTIC IN 800 FT OF WATER. THE NEWLY RATED MULTI-ENGINE PLT HAD BEEN ADVISED BY HIS CFI NOT TO CONDUCT ANY NIGHT IFR OR FLT INTO HEAVY IFR CONDITIONS UNTIL HE GAINED MORE IFR EXPERIENCE. THE WX CONDITIONS WERE NIGHT IFR WITH RAIN, HEAVY TURBULENCE AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA. NEITHER THE ACFT NOR OCCUPANTS WERE RECOVERED FROM THE OCEAN.

Full Narrative

THE PVT PLT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR 27R ILS APCH AND WAS ON THE LOCALIZER AT 1,600 FT WHEN THE CONTROLLER NOTICED THE ACFT NORTH OF THE LOCALIZER COURSE AND IN A RIGHT TURN HEADED EAST. THE CONTROLLER QUERRIED THE PLT AS TO HIS HEADING AND THE PLT REPLIED, 'EAST, WHICH WAS TO GO?'. THE FLT WAS THEN GIVEN A TURN SO AS TO AVOID ANOTHER ACFT ON THE APCH WHICH THE ACCIDENT ACFT WAS APPROACHING HEAD-ON. THE PLT NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED ANY FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT DROPPED OFF RADAR AND CRASHED INTO THE ATLANTIC IN 800 FT OF WATER. THE NEWLY RATED MULTI-ENGINE PLT HAD BEEN ADVISED BY HIS CFI NOT TO CONDUCT ANY NIGHT IFR OR FLT INTO HEAVY IFR CONDITIONS UNTIL HE GAINED MORE IFR EXPERIENCE. THE WX CONDITIONS WERE NIGHT IFR WITH RAIN, HEAVY TURBULENCE AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA. NEITHER THE ACFT NOR OCCUPANTS WERE RECOVERED FROM THE OCEAN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:38 EST
Nearest AirportFt. Lauderdale Int'L (9nm E)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34
Tail NumberN84136
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-KB · Reciprocating · 220
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind360° @ 10 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 68 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:28
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data