Piper PA28 accident near Melbourne, Florida, April 29, 2019
On April 29, 2019 at about 5:05 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA28, registered N3031W, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Melbourne, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, and the flight instructor’s failure to effectively use carburetor heat while operating at an idle engine power setting in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2019 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Melbourne, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 161, built 1979 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N3031W · registry record · serial 28-7916348
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing a simulated engine failure. After completing the emergency checklist, the student added engine power to recover from the maneuver about 500 ft above the ground, but the engine did not respond. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, verified the fuel selector position, and landed. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at glide (idle) power settings, and the instructor reported that he did not apply carburetor heat during the simulated engine-out or attempted recovery. Based on the available information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of the accumulation of carburetor ice during the idle-power descent and that the use of carburetor heat would likely have prevented the loss of engine power.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering
- Fuel related during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 560 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,933.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 6, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,326 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 9,651 hours total
- Operator: Paris Air Inc
The flight
- Departed from: VRB Vero Beach FL at 4:45 pm
- Destination: VRB Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 5:05 pm from VRB, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 18, 2022. 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, Memo for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | 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.