Piper PA-18A-150 accident near Niceville, Florida, March 30, 2001
On March 30, 2001 at about 1:34 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A-150, registered N7471D, was destroyed in an accident near Niceville, Florida (Ruckel airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2001 · about 1:34 pm local time
- Place
- Niceville, Florida · Ruckel · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A-150 · all PA-18A-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7471D · no longer on the register · serial 18-5806
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a flight around the traffic pattern to check the weather, the commercial pilot stated that when he was on the downwind leg the engine lost power. According to the pilot he attempted to get back to the runway, but did not have enough power to make it and crashed into trees. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of internal failure, no loss of required electrical spark or any fuel system abnormaliities. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were conducive for carburetor icing.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 20, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 2001; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360CIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FL17 Niceville FL at 2:37 pm
- Destination: FL17
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft; scat
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from VPS, 3 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.
Other NTSB records under N7471D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.