Piper PA 44 accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, June 9, 2018
On June 9, 2018 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA 44, registered N21161, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Daytona Beach, Florida (Daytona Beach Intl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots’ improper in-flight weather evaluation and decision to continue the approach, which resulted in an encounter with a thunderstorm, a loss of airplane control, and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate preflight weather evaluation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2018 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Daytona Beach Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 44 180, built 1978 · all PA 44s on the register
- Registration
- N21161 · no longer on the register · serial 44-7995041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that he and the private pilot-receiving instruction, who had the controls, informally checked the weather before departing for the cross-country instructional flight but that they did not obtain an official weather briefing. The flight was operating on an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which included thunderstorms, frequent lightning, and low-level wind shear advisories in effect at the destination airport. A tower controller at the destination airport issued the flight a local instrument clearance and provided wind and supplemental weather information, which included wind from 310° at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots; a low-level windshear advisory, which included wind from 320° at 15 knots and a 15-knot gain 1 mile from the end of the runway. The controller also advised the pilot that the visibility was probably 1 mile in “that precipitation" and that there was “frequent lightning cloud to ground.” During the approach, the airplane began encountering rain, which increased in intensity as the airplane neared the final approach fix (FAF). Shortly after passing the FAF, when the airplane was about 800 ft mean sea level, the controller issued a low-altitude alert. The flight instructor took the controls, added full power, and attempted to climb the airplane; however, it continued descending while about 90 knots throughout the descent and upon impact. The airplane impacted houses and then came to rest inverted in a retention pond. The flight instructor noted that there were thunderstorms east of the destination airport when the flight began; however, he did not anticipate their potential impact on the flight. While in-flight, both pilots failed to identify the frequent lightning and low-level windshear advisory as a severe weather hazard and continued the approach into an area of thunderstorm activity instead of diverting to an alternate airport.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (IFR final approach)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (IFR final approach)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Thunderstorm › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 114.5 in this make and model; 261.7 in the last 90 days; 92.4 in the last 30 days; 611.5 as pilot in command; 447.3 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 9, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 211.1 hours in all; 32.2 in this make and model; 101.5 in the last 90 days; 29.2 in the last 30 days; 115.9 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 17, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,424 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 24, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D (piston); 12,115 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LO-360-E1A6D (piston); 9,292 hours total
- Operator: Atp USA, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: FIN Palm Coast FL at 6:45 pm
- Destination: DAB Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,100 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KDAB, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on July 7, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Study Report | PDF, 39 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Attachment 1 | GIF file | Download |
| 5 | Air Traffic Control | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | 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.