Piper PA-28-161 accident near Stuart, FL

On February 8, 2014, a Piper PA-28-161 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Stuart, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

February 8, 2014

Place

Stuart, FL

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

27.168°N, 80.142°W

NTSB ID

20140211X72802

Official records · ERA14LA117

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC Transcripts, Summaries, and Controller Statements: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control Radar Data Plots: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control Audio (1 of 2): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control Audio (2 of 2): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control Radar Data (1 of 2): Document (TXT), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn February 7, 2014, about 1930 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2571U, was destroyed when it impacted the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Stuart, Florida. The private pilot was fatally injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from The Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH), Marathon, Florida, about 1730, and was destined for Vero Beach Municipal Airport (VRB), Vero Beach, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the airplane's owner/operator, the pilot had rented the airplane for the period of one week, while he visited the United States from Europe. On the day of the accident, the pilot had flown the airplane from VRB to MTH. Review of fueling receipts from MTH showed that the pilot serviced the airplane with 16 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel at 1717, prior to departing for VRB. According to radar and voice communication information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, after departing from MTH, the pilot contacted air traffic control (ATC) about 1734, and requested visual flight rules flight following services, with a stated destination of VRB. The flight was subsequently radar identified and flew north, following the eastern Florida coastline. About 1 hour later, the pilot was approved to transition through the airspace of Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at an altitude of 500 feet or below. After transitioning throug

Probable cause

The noninstrument-rated pilot’s continued flight into dark night, instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation and subsequent impact with water.

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Browse: Florida · Piper aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.