Piper PA-28-140 N754AR

Summary

On 13 August 1999 at about 21:44 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N754AR, operated by Andrew S. Rubin, was involved in an accident near Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 August 1999 at 21:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

North Perry Airport (HWO)

Coordinates

26.0309, -80.2393

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N754AR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Andrew S. Rubin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Spanish Cay

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99FA224

2 people died.

The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed and inadvertent stall of the airplane by the pilot-in-command resulting in the uncontrolled descent and in-flight collision with a house. Contributing factors in the accident were the loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons, the operation of the airplane by the pilot-in-command under the influence of marijuana contrary to federal regulations, and the unsuitable terrain encountered after takeoff. A finding in the investigation was the operation of the airplane by the pilot-in-command contrary to federal regulations for his use of antidepressant medication which he was warned against.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident airplane was parked for an undetermined number of days with less than full fuel tanks. The day of the accident, 37.5 gallons of fuel were added before departure. A pilot-rated witness reported that shortly after takeoff, the airplane was lower than expected near the departure end of the runway; the wings were rocking and the airplane was 'floaty'. A witness across the street from the crash site who is an automobile mechanic reported the engine was missing/stalling, the angle of bank increased to 90 degrees before the airplane descended and crashed into a house located in a residential area east of the airport. Examination of the flight controls and engine power section revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction; the carburetor was destroyed by impact and postcrash fire. Testing of the fuel source revealed no contamination. The sealing surface on the right fuel tank was corrosion pitted. The fuel selector was found approximately 1/2 way on the 'left' position; no damage to the shaft was noted. Fuel starvation approximately 25-30 seconds after full power applied to a 180 horsepower engine with the fuel selector positioned approximately as found was noted during testing. Marijuana and antidepressant medication were detected in blood specimen of the pilot, contrary to federal regulations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.