Piper PA-28-161 accident near Bunnell, Florida, January 7, 1989
On January 7, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N81444, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunnell, Florida (Flagler County 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
MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY BY THE STUDENT PILOT, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI). THE EXPOSED (RAISED) RUNWAY LIP WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bunnell, Florida · Flagler County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N81444 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE DUAL STUDENT WAS PRACTICING A SHORT FIELD LANDING, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN JUST SHORT OF THE RWY. A MOMENT LATER, BEFORE THE NOSEWHEEL WAS LOWERED, THE MAIN GEAR HIT THE LIP OF THE RWY, WHICH WAS EXPOSED. DURING IMPACT, THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE BLEW OUT, THE RIGHT STRUT FAILED & THE RIGHT WING WAS DAMAGED.
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: 854 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 649 as pilot in command; 240 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,043 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 5, 1988; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eagle Flight Center, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from DAB, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.