Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315
Monday, December 13, 1999 15:04 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At about 150 feet agl, during takeoff climb, the flight experienced a partial engine power loss due to an intermittently operative right-hand magneto condenser. The pilot stated the airplane stalled and collided with trees, eventually coming to rest partially submerged in a marina basin. Disassembly examination of the core engine and all fuel components revealed no mechanical abnormalities. Bench testing and disassembly examination of the right-hand magneto condenser revealed no damage attributable to the submersion and a short to ground that would have rendered the magneto inoperative. Using the pilot's estimate of fuel aboard, the occupant's weights, and the FAA's estimate of the baggage and cargo aboard, computations revealed the aircraft was about 272 pounds over maximum gross takeoff weight. The pilot was not BFR current, nor was the conversion to a three-bladed propeller properly documented in the maintenance records.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain minimum flying airspeed, (Vso) during takeoff following a partial loss of engine power resulting in the aircraft stalling, an uncontrolled descent, and collision with trees. A factor in the accident was the failure of the right-hand magneto condenser and the pilot's operation of the aircraft in excess of its maximum gross takeoff weight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/13/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1504
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FORT LAUDERDALE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33315
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 11
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1530 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 25
Weather Observation Facility ID FLL
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1300
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1743
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 13 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1521
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 13 2001 11:18AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21312
NTSB Number MIA00LA049
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32RT-300T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32RT-30
Aircraft Serial Number 32R7887199
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 2 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 266
Airframe Hours 2997
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MONTE POLLOCK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 810 SATURN ST. STE. 16
Aircraft Owner City JUPITER
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33477
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FLL
Departure City FT.LAUDERDALE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYAW
Destination City WALKERS CAY
Destination State OF
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 14 2001 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27L
Runway Length 5276
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --