Piper PA-23-250 accident near Perry, Florida, March 21, 2013
On March 21, 2013 at about 12:40 pm local time, a 1976 Piper PA-23-250, registered N625SR, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Perry, Florida (Perry-Foley airport). It was an executive or corporate 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 total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2013 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Perry, Florida · Perry-Foley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250, built 1976 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N625SR · no longer on the register · serial 27-7654067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during cruise flight, the left fuel flow was "fluctuating." The pilot activated the electric fuel pump, and the fuel flow stabilized. After a few minutes, he deactivated the electric fuel pump, and the fuel flow remained "stable." The pilot began the descent from cruise altitude and selected the outboard fuel tanks on the fuel selector panel. During the descent, the right engine began to lose power, and it subsequently lost total power. After the pilot notified an air traffic controller of the engine failure and chose to continue to his original destination, the left engine lost total power. He then maneuvered the airplane toward a nearby airport; however, the airplane was unable to reach the airport, and it impacted trees and then came to rest upright. The airplane had been fueled 2 days before the accident and had been flown for an undetermined amount of time since then. Local law enforcement reported smelling fuel at the crash site; however, the investigation could not determine whether the selected fuel tanks had fuel in them when the engines lost power. Although on-scene examination of the fuel system revealed that fuel was present throughout the system except at the right engine fuel flow divider, it could not be determined what role, if any, this played in the loss of power to both engines. The reason for the loss of power to both engines 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (descent) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,125 hours in all; 236 in this make and model; 111 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 24,657 as pilot in command; 3,359 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 13, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,219 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2012; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO 540 C4B5 (piston); 5,237 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO 540 C4B5 (piston); 4,310 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL at 11:35 am
- Destination: TLH Tallahassee FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from K40J, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on March 24, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record - FAA 8020-23 Form (Excerpts) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum of Record - Recovery Company | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Police Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Fuel Receipt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Perry Foley Airport Weather | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 1 - Airplane at Rest (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.