Piper PA-32-300 accident near Marathon, FL
On February 2, 2001, a Piper PA-32-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Marathon, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 2, 2001
- Place
- Marathon, FL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 24.902°N, 80.935°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010207X00413
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 1, 2001, at about 1951 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N99WD, registered to Aerolease Of America Inc., crashed into the Florida Bay, about 12.7 nautical miles northeast of Marathon, Florida. The flight was operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 public use intercept training flight with a Coast Guard HU-25, tail number 2135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary private pilot and aerial observer were fatally injured. The flight originated from Opa Locka, Florida, as Coast Guard Aux 113, about 1 hour 22 minutes before the accident. The United States Coast Guard located the wreckage on February 2, 2001. The aircraft commander of Coast Guard 2135 stated they were conducting air intercept training with Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft N99WD. N99WD was initially flying north and south in the vicinity of the Dade-Collier Airport acting as a target aircraft. They moved to another area due to traffic. They moved further south over the Everglades. N99WD was at 1,500 feet and they were at 1,000 feet in a 1/2-mile trail position. As they were approaching the Flamingo ranger station N99WD was asked if he was comfortable continuing for an additional 2 to 3 miles so they could stabilize there position. N99WD stated there was no problem, and that he had a visual on the Marathon Airport located about 25 miles to the south. About 1-1 1/2 minutes later, N99WD stated it was getting a bit hazy. He informed N99WD and the crew of 2135, that they would be breaking off
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's lack of recent experience in instrument flight resulting in the pilot becoming spatially disoriented, and subsequent in-flight collision with water while descending.
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Browse: Florida · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
