Piper PA-28-140 accident near Miami, Florida, August 29, 1991
On August 29, 1991 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N41431, was destroyed in an accident near Miami, Florida (Kendall-Tamiami airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY DRAIN THE FUEL SYSTEM OF WATER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY. THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A FORCED LANDING AREA WAS POOR IN THAT A BETTER LANDING AREA WAS AVAILABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1991 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Kendall-Tamiami
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N41431 · registry record · serial 28-7425238
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE RUN ROUGH WHILE ON TAKEOFF ROLL BUT THE FLIGHT CONTINUED TO TAKE OFF. SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE THE PILOT RADIOED THE TOWER THAT HE WAS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WAS EXECUTING AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO TURN TO A SUITABLE LANDING AREA AND INITIATED A DESCENT. AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL THE AIRPLANE BANKED TO THE LEFT AND TURNED INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF WATER INGESTION. THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT FLOWN FOR A WEEK AND WAS STORED OUTSIDE. THE RAINFALL THE PREVIOUS WEEK HAD BEEN HEAVY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TMB Miami FL at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9L, 5,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.