Piper PA-28-161 accident near Valkaria, Florida, February 25, 1991
On February 25, 1991 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N609FT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valkaria, Florida (Valkaria airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO SUPERVISE THE STUDENT PILOT'S ACTIONS, RESULTING IN A STALL AT A LOW ALTITUDE WHERE RECOVERY WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1991 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Valkaria, Florida · Valkaria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N609FT · registry record · serial 2841219
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT INITIATED A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE AFTER TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 250 FT AGL. THE STUDENT INITIATED A STEEP TURN AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE INSTRUCTOR ADDED THROTTLE AND ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER BUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TREES AND THE GROUND.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 387 hours in all; 346 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 353 as pilot in command; 143 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 14, 1991; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D36 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,600 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from MLB, 13 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.