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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 18, 1990 · Piper PA-38-112 · N91309

Marco Island, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 18, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Marco Island, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-38-112
Tail Number
N91309
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA90FA106

THE PILOT DEPARTED NAPLES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, NAPLES, FLORIDA, VFR ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT AT 1130 HOURS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT THE MARCO ISLAND MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA BETWEEN 1300-1400 HOURS AND DEPARTED AT AN UNKNOWN TIME. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS INITIALLY SPOTTED AT 1700 HOURS IN UNKNOWN BAY, BUT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A SUNKEN BOAT. THE CIVIL AIR PATROL SPOTTED THE AIRPLANE AT 1925 HOURS AND NOTIFIED THE AUTHORITIES, WHO RESPONDED TO THE CRASH SITE. AIRCRAFT RECORDS AND HOBBS METER IN THE AIRPLANE, INDICATE IT HAD BEEN OPERATED 4 HRS & 36 MIN. AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATE FUEL EXHAUSTION AT 4 HRS & 24 MIN. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL AT CRASH SITE OR PURCHASE OF FUEL BY THE PILOT. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE INDICATES INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SPUN TO THE LEFT AND IMPACTED THE WATER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY POWERPLANT, AIRFRAME OR FLIGHT CONTROL FAILURE.

NTSB Probable Cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO IMPROPER PLANNING & DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT DEPARTED NAPLES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, NAPLES, FLORIDA, VFR ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT AT 1130 HOURS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT THE MARCO ISLAND MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA BETWEEN 1300-1400 HOURS AND DEPARTED AT AN UNKNOWN TIME. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS INITIALLY SPOTTED AT 1700 HOURS IN UNKNOWN BAY, BUT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A SUNKEN BOAT. THE CIVIL AIR PATROL SPOTTED THE AIRPLANE AT 1925 HOURS AND NOTIFIED THE AUTHORITIES, WHO RESPONDED TO THE CRASH SITE. AIRCRAFT RECORDS AND HOBBS METER IN THE AIRPLANE, INDICATE IT HAD BEEN OPERATED 4 HRS & 36 MIN. AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATE FUEL EXHAUSTION AT 4 HRS & 24 MIN. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL AT CRASH SITE OR PURCHASE OF FUEL BY THE PILOT. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE INDICATES INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SPUN TO THE LEFT AND IMPACTED THE WATER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY POWERPLANT, AIRFRAME OR FLIGHT CONTROL FAILURE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:49 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-38-112
Tail NumberN91309
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2A · Reciprocating · 118
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 28 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 10 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data