Cessna 172H accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, August 17, 1996
On August 17, 1996 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N8016L, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An engine malfunction for undetermined reasons. A factor was the pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1996 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- St. Petersburg, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N8016L · no longer on the register · serial 17256216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner was scheduled to deliver his airplane to a mechanic for an annual inspection. When the airplane did not arrive, the mechanic made inquiries, and discovered that the airplane had crashed between the departure airport and the destination. Witnesses to the accident reported that the engine was not operating, and that it appeared the airplane was attempting to land on a fishing pier. The airplane hit a light pole, the fishing pier guardrail, and tumbled into the bay. Following the airplane's removal from the bay, there was evidence of fuel in the airplane at impact. Although the carburetor bowl exhibited evidence of long term corrosion, the engine was operated after removing the sea water trapped in it. The reason for the reported engine malfunction could not be determined.
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; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 110 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,761 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1995; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 172H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLW Clearwater FL
- Destination: 48X Palmetto FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from SPG, 9 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.