Piper PA25 accident near Miami, Florida, August 5, 2020
On August 5, 2020 at about 5:33 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA25, registered N223AB, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Miami, Florida. It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to carburetor ice that was not detected by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2020 · about 5:33 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA25 235, built 1966 · all PA25s on the register
- Registration
- N223AB · no longer on the register · serial 25-3996
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot departed on a banner tow flight and after takeoff, as part of his procedures, briefly checked two times for carburetor ice. Prior to beginning a descent, he applied carburetor heat a third time, but before he had time to adjust the throttle, the engine lost total power. Unable to restore power he maneuvered over water and dropped the banner as to avoid injury to any persons or property then maneuvered for a forced landing on a road. After touchdown on the road, the airplane collided with a fence and went down a slight embankment before coming to rest upright. Postaccident examination and operational test run of the engine, as well as the carburetor heat system, revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide (idle) and cruise engine power settings. Thus, it is likely that during cruise flight before the third application of carburetor heat, carburetor ice formed that was not detected by the pilot.
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
- Fuel related during enroute (descent) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 379 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 301 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 25, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,639.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 2020; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 11,488 hours total
- Operator: Aerial Banners North, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Hollywood FL at 4:59 pm
- Destination: HWO Hollywood FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MIA, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 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, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of NTSB Conversation | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Annotated Carburetor Icing Probability Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 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.