Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Melbourne, Florida, April 22, 1986
On April 22, 1986 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N528FT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Melbourne, Florida (Valkaria airport). It was an instructional 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 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 22, 1986 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Melbourne, Florida · Valkaria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N528FT · no longer on the register · serial 28R-8218022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THEY WERE DOING TOUCH & GO LANDINGS & ON LIFTOFF, THE ENG SPUTTERED & LOST POWER. SHE THEN TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS FROM THE STUDENT & ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON ANOTHER RWY & LANDED HARD. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE ENG LOST POWER DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP UNDER THE EXHAUST VALVES ON THE #1 & #2 CYLINDERS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 559 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 413 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,192 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 26, 1986; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLB Melbourne FL at 8:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,000 ft by 180 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from MLB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
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.