Piper PA-38-112 accident near Deland, Florida, February 8, 1998
On February 8, 1998 at about 10:49 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N925IT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deland, Florida (Bob Lee Flight Strip 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 due to the pilots inadequate fuel management.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 8, 1998 · about 10:49 pm local time
- Place
- Deland, Florida · Bob Lee Flight Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N925IT · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, after takeoff, about 30 to 40 feet, the engine had a sudden loss of power. A forced landing was attempted straight ahead, with the airplane coming to rest in a plant nursery. An on-scene investigation revealed that there was no fuel in the right fuel tank. The fuel selector was found in the right tank position.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 326 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 242 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,840 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 2, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1J6 FL at 10:15 pm
- Destination: 44J Spruce Creek FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,300 ft by 72 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from DAB, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.