Piper PA32R accident near Marathon, Florida, January 25, 2018
On January 25, 2018 at about 7:25 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA32R, registered N47863, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Marathon, Florida (The Florida Keys Marathon Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 2018 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Marathon, Florida · The Florida Keys Marathon Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32R 300, built 1977 · all PA32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N47863 · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7880025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that the airplane "was performing well and didn't have any issues" during the attempted takeoff. When the airplane reached about 60 knots during the takeoff roll, the nosewheel lifted off the runway, and the airplane began immediately turning left. The pilot attempted to arrest the turn with rudder and aileron control inputs, but the airplane continued to turn left, exited the runway, and impacted trees. Given that the airplane had been performing as expected initially, it is likely that the pilot failed to adequately compensate for the airplane's natural left turning tendencies due to torque effects during the attempted takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
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 control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,156.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2017; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 1,515 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MTH Marathon FL at 7:25 pm
- Destination: GIF Winter Haven FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,008 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from MTH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 11, 2019. 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 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Video File A | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Video File B | 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.
Other NTSB records under N47863 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.