Piper PA-30 accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, August 3, 2011
On August 3, 2011 at about 3:11 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N8314Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near St. Petersburg, Florida (Albert Whitted Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper rotation during takeoff, resulting in a stall and subsequent collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2011 · about 3:11 pm local time
- Place
- St. Petersburg, Florida · Albert Whitted Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N8314Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-1454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, with the flaps extended, the pilot over-rotated the airplane when it reached an airspeed of 85 mph. He retracted the landing gear, the airspeed decreased to 69 mph, and the airplane stalled. The left wing dropped, the pilot lowered the nose of the airplane, and it collided with the ground resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. Visual examination of the airplane verified the pilot's statement. The flight manual for the airplane indicated the airplane will stall at 69 mph with the landing gear and flaps extended.
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
- Abrupt maneuver during takeoff defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 76 in the last 30 days; 485 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 4, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,468 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 14, 2011; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPG St. Petersburg FL at 3:10 pm
- Destination: EYW Key West FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,677 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 3:14 pm from SPG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on August 23, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation Duats | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation St Petesburg Flying Service | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | St Petersburg Flying Service Fuel Slip | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Approved FAA Flight Manual | PDF, 74 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Record of Conversation Insurance Adjuster | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Airport Incident Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Police Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Extract of Aircraft Logbooks | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.