Piper PA-28-180 accident near Jacksonville, Florida, July 2, 1998
On July 2, 1998 at about 6:49 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9011J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida (Craig Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to manage his fuel properly leading to fuel starvation, a loss of engine power, and the collision with trees and the ground. A factor was his lack of total experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1998 · about 6:49 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Craig Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9011J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he had 1.5 to 2 hours of fuel available for the day. He flew to St. Augustine, had a private pilot checkride, and was returning to Jacksonville. He estimated the checkride took 45 minutes. According to the pilot, he was on final to runway 23 when the engine quit. He initiated emergency procedures by putting the mixture to rich and switching fuel tanks. The airplane struck the trees and the ground. The wreckage was examined, with no fuel found in the intact left fuel tank. There was fuel in the right tank. The pilot stated he had 96 hours of total flight time.
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: 96 hours in all; 81 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,996 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGJ St Augustine FL at 6:50 pm
- Destination: CRG
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from CRG, 1 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 N9011J 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.