Piper PA-25-235 N7788Z

Summary

On 23 June 2006 at about 18:20 local time, a Piper PA-25-235 registered N7788Z was involved in an accident near Opa-Locka, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 June 2006 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Opa-Locka, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Opa-Locka Airport (KOPF)

Coordinates

25.9117, -80.2861

Aircraft

Piper PA-25-235

Registration

N7788Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Banner Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Opa-Locka → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA06CA119

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled descent, and in-flight collision with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that after an intersection takeoff he initiated a steep right turn to return to pick up a banner, and about halfway into the turn, the airplane stalled and the right wing dropped. He attempted to recover, and when the flight was approximately 60 feet agl, he had stopped the spin and the wings were level. The airplane impacted the ground in a slightly nose high attitude, caught fire immediately, and slid to a stop. The pilot stated that prior to the accident, there was no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. Post accident examination of the flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Heat damage to the engine and engine controls precluded an engine run; however, examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.