Piper PA-31-350 accident near Miami, Florida, April 1, 1982
On April 1, 1982 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N3587D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida (Miami Intl airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1982 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Miami Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N3587D · no longer on the register · serial 31 8052129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAXIING TO GATE H-2 TO PICK UP A CHARTER PASSENGER WHEN THE AIRCRAFT AND A VEHICLE COLLIDED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT FIVE SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT, HE SAW THE VEHICLE APPROACHING FROM HIS TEN O'CLOCK POSITION. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CROSSED IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND STRUCK THE RIGHT WINGTIP. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS ESCORTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT HE LOOKED BOTH WAYS BEFORE ENTERING THE TAXIWAY, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY MOVING AIRCRAFT. WHEN HE NOTICED THE PLANE, HE ACCELERATED TO AVOID COLLISION, BUT WAS TOO LATE. IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS A BRIGHT MORNING SUN REFLECTING ON A WET PAVEMENT THAT MAY HAVE HINDERED THE DRIVER'S VISION.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,664 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 2,528 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 485 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIA Miami FL
- Destination: MIA Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.