Piper PA-28-161 accident near Vero Beach, Florida, December 8, 1991
On December 8, 1991 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N9222J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida (Vero Beach Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THIS RESULTED IN THE COLLISION WITH A SIGN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 1991 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · Vero Beach Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9222J · no longer on the register · serial 2841039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON RWY 11L WITH A WIND FROM 090 DEGREES AT 7 KTS, THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT. IT TRAVELLED OFF THE RT SIDE OF THE RWY & COLLIDED WITH A RWY MARKING SIGN. THE PLT FURTHER STATED THAT THE BRAKES LOCKED AFTER HE APPLIED THEM. EACH BRAKE ASSY WAS DISASSEMBLED WHICH REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE TIRES WERE EXAMINED WHICH REVEALED NO FLAT SPOTS TO INDICATE THAT THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED.
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: 69 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 15, 1991; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,332 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-310-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Safety International
The flight
- Departed from: TIX Titusville FL at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 11, 3,504 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from VRB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.