Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Terra Ceia, Florida 33591
Thursday, January 12, 1989 14:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PLT STATED THAT DURING A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT, HE HEARD UNUSUAL SOUNDS, BUT THERE WAS NO ENG FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A SOD FIELD. AFTER LANDING WITH A TAILWIND, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT BEFORE IT CONTINUED INTO A DITCH & WAS DAMAGED. COMPANY PERSONNEL WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PREIMPACT PROBLEMS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TAILWIND CONDITIONS DURING THE LANDING AND THE PROXIMITY OF THE DITCH TO THE SELECTED LANDING AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/12/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City TERRA CEIA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33591
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1346 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 186
Weather Observation Facility ID SRQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 28
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 125
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 13 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 833
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38318
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2439B
NTSB Number MIA89LA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-79A0062
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 3 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 4601
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ABBOTT, CARL R.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 971 SW 113 WAY
Aircraft Owner City FORT LAUDERDALE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33325
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AERO LEASING, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3405 SW 9 AVE.
Operator City FORT LAUDERDALE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33315
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FLL
Departure City FORT LAUDERDALE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SRQ
Destination City SARASOTA
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --