Piper PA-23-160 accident near Titusville, Florida, February 28, 2000
On February 28, 2000 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N441WA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Titusville, Florida (Space Coast Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to attempt a flight on minimal fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the closed fuel pumps at the departure airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2000 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Space Coast Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N441WA · no longer on the register · serial 23-1944
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After receiving serious injuries during the accident, the pilot couldn't recall the details of the flight. According to the pilot-rated passenger, fuel was not available at the departure airport. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane lost engine power while on approach to their destination airport. The pilot executed an off-field emergency landing short of runway 18. During an examination of the fuel system, approximately one pint of fuel was recovered from the right outboard fuel tank, and no fuel was recovered from the remaining tanks. The local fire department reported to the FAA inspector that when they arrived on-scene there was no odor of fuel, nor was there any evidence of fuel being spilled from the airplane. An examination of the wreckage failed to disclose any mechanical malfunctions or component failures.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,815 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 1,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,478 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 19, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X21 FL at 7:45 pm
- Destination: TIX FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from TIX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.