Piper PA-24-250 accident near Opa Locka, Florida, June 25, 1985
On June 25, 1985 at about 9:15 am local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N9165P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opa Locka, Florida (Opa-Locka airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- June 25, 1985 · about 9:15 am local time
- Place
- Opa Locka, Florida · Opa-Locka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N9165P · no longer on the register · serial 24-4653
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS LANDING AFTER A X-COUNTRY FLT WHEN THE RIGHT WING & THE PROP CONTACTED THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT THE GEAR HAD COLLAPSED DURING A GO-AROUND. HOWEVER, THE LANDING GEAR WAS INTACT, EXCEPT FOR IMPACT DAMAGE ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR. NO GEAR MALFUNCTION OR PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE PLT'S LAST PHYSICAL EXAM WAS ON 8/2/81, BUT THE ISSUANCE OF A NEW MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DENIED.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 22,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPG St. Petersburg FL at 8:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18L, 4,374 ft by 244 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:03 am from MIA, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9165P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.