Piper PA 28 accident near Merritt Island, Florida, June 29, 2016
On June 29, 2016 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1989 Piper PA 28, registered N601FT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Merritt Island, Florida (Merritt Island airport). 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 total loss of engine power during the landing roll, and an engine fire during a subsequent engine restart attempt. Neither the cause for the loss of engine power nor the source of the fire could be determined because the airplane was not made available for examination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2016 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Merritt Island, Florida · Merritt Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28 161, built 1989 · all PA 28s on the register
- Registration
- N601FT · registry record · serial 2841195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that he and his student were practicing takeoffs and landings in preparation for the student's first solo flight. During the seventh landing, the engine experienced a total loss of power during the landing roll. The instructor attempted to restart the engine, but during the process, he smelled and observed smoke coming from the engine cowling. He switched off the electrical equipment, obtained the fire extinguisher, and attempted to extinguish the fire. Maintenance personnel arrived shortly thereafter and fully extinguished the fire. The engine and carburetor were not made available for examination; therefore, neither the reason for the loss of power nor the source of the fire could be determined. Although the instructor's actions following the observed smoke were inconsistent with those prescribed by the pilot's operating handbook for an engine fire during start, whether his actions contributed to the fire could not be determined.
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 (total) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine starting › (general) › Related operating info
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine starting › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 867 hours in all; 724 in this make and model; 189 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 713 as pilot in command; 554 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 22, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,651.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 10, 2016
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 15,654 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Airborne Systems Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: COI Merritt Island FL at 3:50 pm
- Destination: COI Merritt Island FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,601 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from KCOF, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2017. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Piper Cadet PA-28-161 POH Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | 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.