Piper PA-18 accident near Pahokee, Florida, April 11, 2002
On April 11, 2002 at about 8:17 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N30660, was destroyed in an accident near Pahokee, Florida (Plam Beach County Glades airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power and the post-landing fire for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2002 · about 8:17 pm local time
- Place
- Pahokee, Florida · Plam Beach County Glades · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N30660 · no longer on the register · serial 5-230
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the fuel tank was filled with 100 low lead fuel before the takeoff. The pilot taxied to runway 10, and initiated a takeoff. During climbout, the pilot started a left climbing turn, and at approximately the same time, the engine lost power. The pilot further reported that engine RPM dropped to Idle. The pilot selected an emergency landing area and established an approach to land. The pilot reported that after the landing, the airplane burst into flames.The subsequent examination of the accident site disclosed that the airframe was badly fire damaged. The engine compartment was also fire damaged, and engine components damaged. According to the pilot, he had not experienced any previous mechanical problems with the airplane.
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: 3,863 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 15, 2001
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 28, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Pahokee FL at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:44 pm from PNS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.