Piper PA-24-250 accident near Avon Park, Florida, October 31, 1996
On October 31, 1996 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N8353P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Avon Park, Florida (Avon Park Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of the elevator trim, which resulted in runway contact by the propeller during the takeoff roll and subsequent loss of aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1996 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Avon Park, Florida · Avon Park Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N8353P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the taxi to the runway for takeoff, the pilot was observed adjusting the ceiling mounted elevator trim. On takeoff, the nose of the airplane porpoised, and the propeller contacted the runway. After becoming airborne, the airplane turned left and entered a steep nose down dive until it impacted in an orange tree nursery. Subsequently, multiple propeller slash marks were found in the runway, where a witness observed a cloud of debris, created by the airplane on its takeoff roll. The elevator trim was found in the fully deflected position for nose down trim. The propeller blades exhibited abrasions on the cambered face at the tips, which were curled aft 90 degrees.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,914 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,102 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 1996; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVO at 5:23 pm
- Destination: NONE Summerland Key FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from BOW, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.