Piper PA 28-161 accident near Everglades, Florida, January 31, 2016
On January 31, 2016 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA 28-161, registered N705RA, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Everglades, Florida (Everglades Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 maintain adequate wing clearance while taxiing, which resulted in a collision with two unoccupied airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2016 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Everglades, Florida · Everglades Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-161 Warrior II, built 1977 · all PA 28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N705RA · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after landing at an unfamiliar airport, and while taxiing, the airplane's right wing impacted two airplanes that were parked in the parking area, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Airport occurrence during taxi defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Situational awareness › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 215 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 125 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,850.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 29, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 5,906 hours total
- Operator: Ari Ben Aviator INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FPR Fort Pierce FL at 7:00 pm
- Destination: X01 Everglades FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 am from KMKY, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.