Piper PA-34-200T accident near Vero Beach, Florida, March 5, 2010
On March 5, 2010 at about 7:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N103GK, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Vero Beach, Florida (Vero Beach Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The certified flight instructor's failure to monitor the airspeed while the student performed a single-engine approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2010 · about 7:37 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · Vero Beach Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N103GK · no longer on the register · serial 347970330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student had completed several multiengine maneuvers at altitude including single-engine procedures. During the approach, the CFI retarded the left throttle to simulate an engine failure, and the student correctly identified the affected engine. The CFI then set zero thrust on the left engine, and the student continued the approach, utilizing the right engine. On the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the CFI noted that the altitude had dropped to about 500 to 650 feet above ground level and took control of the airplane. He stated that he added power on both engines; however, no increase in power was noted on either engine. The CFI attempted to troubleshoot the problem but, due to the low altitude, he elected to perform a forced landing; the airplane collided with trees and sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane and both engines and reports from the CFI did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the CFI allowed the airspeed to decrease below the minimum controllable speed for single-engine operations.
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
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during approach
- Altitude deviation during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,928 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 1,758 as pilot in command; 1,350 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 20, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 223 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 147 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 18, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 2010; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Paris Air, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: VRB Vero Beach FL at 6:20 pm
- Destination: VRB Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from VRB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.