Piper PA 30 accident near Opa Locka, Florida, October 25, 2019
On October 25, 2019 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 1969 Piper PA 30, registered N8816Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Opa Locka, Florida (Miami-Opa Locka Executive 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
The pilot receiving instruction's failure to relinquish the flight controls to the flight instructor during a simulated engine failure during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane touching down in a left banking attitude and the landing gear collapsing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2019 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Opa Locka, Florida · Miami-Opa Locka Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 30 No Series, built 1969 · all PA 30s on the register
- Registration
- N8816Y · no longer on the register · serial 301974
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction in the multiengine airplane reported that, during the runup, he and the flight instructor briefed for a simulated engine failure during takeoff. He added that, during the takeoff, the instructor reduced the left engine throttle, and the airplane veered left. He "lost the control," and the instructor took the flight controls. The airplane lifted off into ground effect, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane then exited the runway and came to rest in grass. The instructor, who was seated in the left seat, reported that, after he reduced power on the left engine during takeoff, the pilot became confused by the sudden left yaw and did not react. He repeatedly told the pilot to abort the takeoff. Brakes were only installed on the pilot's (left) side, so the instructor was unable to apply brakes. The pilot panicked, moved the left throttle to full, remained locked on the controls, and applied back pressure on the yoke. The instructor continued to attempt to take the flight controls from the pilot, but the airplane entered ground effect. The instructor eventually took the flight controls, and as the airplane settled to the ground, he reduced both throttles to idle. The airplane touched down in a "left yawing, slight left bank attitude," and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded on the runway to the left, rotated counterclockwise, exited the runway, and then came to rest in grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Following instructions › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not installed/available
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 235 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 153 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 24, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,459 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 111 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command; 953 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 12, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,256.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 30, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OPF Miami FL at 11:45 pm
- Destination: OPF Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09L, 8,002 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KOPF
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 December 20, 2019. 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 - Flight Instructor | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Owner | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Photo | 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.