Piper PA-28-161 and Piper PA-28-161 accident near Melbourne, Florida, May 23, 2012
On May 23, 2012 at about 2:00 am local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-161 (N47749) and Piper PA-28-161 (N602FT), were involved in the same accident near Melbourne, Florida (Melbourne International airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to set the parking brake and to maintain a proper visual lookout, which resulted in an on-ground collision with another airplane.
The failure of the pilot of another airplane to set the parking brake and to maintain a proper visual lookout, which resulted in an on-ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2012 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Melbourne, Florida · Melbourne International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-161, built 1977 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N47749 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816131
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-161, built 1989 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N602FT · registry record · serial 2841196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N602FT reported that, while holding short of the runway waiting for departure, he noticed another airplane stop behind his airplane. A few seconds later, the airplane was struck from behind by N47749. N602FT's position, landing, and strobe lights were illuminated when the accident occurred. The pilot of N47749 reported that he was number three for departure behind N602FT. While the pilot was looking at the tachometer, the airplane slowly moved forward, struck N602FT, and severed the outer 2 feet of the left outboard portion of N602FT's horizontal stabilator. The pilot realized after the collision that he had not set the parking brake. He thought that his feet were on the brake pedals but that he did not put "much pressure" on them before the crash. Postaccident examination of N47749's brake system did not reveal evidence of any preimpact failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. When actuated, both the toe brakes and the parking brake were functional.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N602FT reported that, while holding short of the runway waiting for departure, he noticed another airplane stop behind his airplane. A few seconds later, the airplane was struck from behind by N47749. N602FT's position, landing, and strobe lights were illuminated when the accident occurred. The pilot of N47749 reported that he was number three for departure behind N602FT. While the pilot was looking at the tachometer, the airplane slowly moved forward, struck N602FT, and severed the outer 2 feet of the left outboard portion of N602FT's horizontal stabilator. The pilot realized after the collision that he had not set the parking brake. He thought that his feet were on the brake pedals but that he did not put "much pressure" on them before the crash. Postaccident examination of N47749's brake system did not reveal evidence of any preimpact failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. When actuated, both the toe brakes and the parking brake were functional.
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 for the Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 137 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 15, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,174 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 30, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-D3G (piston); 9,143 hours total
- Operator: Fit Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: MLB Melbourne FL
- Destination: MLB Melbourne FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09R, 10,181 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 1:27 am from MLB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot of other aircraft
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 782 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 142 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 666 as pilot in command; 473 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 18, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 155 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,077 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 21, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-D3G (piston); 6,990 hours total
- Operator: F I T Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: MLB Melbourne FL
- Destination: OCF Ocala FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 09R, 10,181 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
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.