Piper PA-44-180 accident near Stuart, Florida, April 12, 1990
On April 12, 1990 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-44-180, registered N109SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stuart, Florida (Witham Field). 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 INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT THE LOSS OF AIRSPEED RESULTING FROM THE STUDENT'S INCORRECT CONTROL INPUT WHILE ON APPROACH TO LAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1990 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stuart, Florida · Witham Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180 · all PA-44-180s on the register
- Registration
- N109SA · no longer on the register · serial 447995233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT STATED THAT DURING A SHORT FIELD LANDING, THE STUDENT RAISED THE ACFT'S NOSE ON SHORT FINAL AT AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 75 KTS. THE INSTRUCTOR LOWERED THE NOSE & GAVE CONTROL BACK TO HIM. THE STUDENT AGAIN RAISED THE NOSE, BUT DUE TO THE ALTITUDE & AIRSPEED, THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT TO GO-AROUND. THE STUDENT RETARDED THE THROTTLE & THE INSTRUCTOR THEN APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, BUT HE ACFT STALLED, DESCENDED RGT WING LOW & CRASHED ON THE RWY.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:50 pm from PBI, 31 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.