Piper PA-34-200 accident near Deland, Florida, July 19, 2006
On July 19, 2006 at about 6:29 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N717PE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deland, Florida (Deland Muni-Sidney H Taylor Fi airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the dual student during final approach to land, and his delayed remedial action following a partial loss of engine power on one of the two engines. Factors associated with the accident are the dual student's unstabilized landing approach, and the partial loss of power on one engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2006 · about 6:29 pm local time
- Place
- Deland, Florida · Deland Muni-Sidney H Taylor Fi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N717PE · no longer on the register · serial 34-7250152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first pilot, a certificated flight instructor, was providing flight instruction to the second pilot in a multi-engine airplane. After completing a series of flight maneuvers, the instructor reduced power on the right engine to simulate a failure on that engine. The instructor then told the second pilot, a private pilot training for a multi-engine rating, to make a simulated single-engine emergency landing at the nearest airport. While on approach to the runway, as the airplane passed through about 100 feet agl, the single-engine approach became "unstable" and the instructor told the second pilot to discontinue the approach and go-around. The second pilot applied full power to both engines, but according to the pilots, the right engine did not produce full power, and the airplane veered sharply to the right. The instructor then took control of the airplane, and reduced power on the left engine in an attempt to correct the veer. As the airplane neared the departure end of the runway, it descended and collided with grass-covered terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Postaccident inspection disclosed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical anomalies. The right engine was removed and inspected, and placed on an engine test stand. It was operated at various power settings for an extended period. The engine operated without incident, and produced its maximum rated rpm.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,299 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2006; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 5:55 pm
- Destination: DED Deland FL
- Runway 5, 4,301 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KDED
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.