Piper PA-28-161 and Piper PA-28-R-180 accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, October 24, 1991
On October 24, 1991 at about 2:35 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-161 (N136AT) and Piper PA-28-R-180 (N3110R), were involved in the same accident near Daytona Beach, Florida (Daytona Beach Regional airport). 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N136AT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM N3110R WHILE DIVERTING HER ATTENTION TO CLOSE HER DOOR DURING TAXI TO TAKEOFF.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N136AT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM N3110R WHILE DIVERTING HER ATTENTION TO CLOSE HER DOOR DURING TAXI TO TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1991 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Daytona Beach Regional · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N136AT · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916177
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-R-180 PA-28-R-18 · all PA-28-R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3110R · no longer on the register · serial 28R-31113
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT OF N136AT WAS CLEARED TO TAXI AROUND N3110R AND ENTER THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF. AS PILOT TAXIED SHE DIVERTED HER ATTENTION TO CLOSE HER DOOR. HER AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND HER RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT WING AND PROPELLER OF N3110R.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-R-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT OF N136AT WAS CLEARED TO TAXI AROUND N3110R AND ENTER RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF. AS PILOT TAXIED SHE DIVERTED HER ATTENTION TO CLOSE HER DOOR. HER AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND HER RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT WING AND PROPELLER OF N3110R.
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 for the Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 236 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,337 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1991; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from DAB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-R-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,300 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 19,000 as pilot in command; 18,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,871 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 27, 1991; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
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.