Piper PA-32-301 accident near Homestead, Florida, January 22, 2021
On January 22, 2021 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1980 Piper PA-32-301, registered N8224H, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Homestead, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of power for reasons that could not be determined, as the airplane was not recovered from the water following the ditching.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 2021 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Homestead, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301, built 1980 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8224H · no longer on the register · serial 32-8006060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, flight instructor, and two passengers departed with full fuel tanks on a short cross-country flight, partially over water. About 40 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 5,500 ft mean sea level, the engine began to lose power. The flight instructor turned on the auxiliary fuel pump and switched fuel tanks but was unable to restore engine power. The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control and ditched the airplane into the water about 1/2-mile from shore. The airplane was not recovered from the water following the accident and was presumed substantially damaged. Given that the wreckage was not recovered from the water, the reason for the loss of engine power 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
- Ditching during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private, recreational
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 970 hours in all; 930 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 970 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,375 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 4,375 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMY Fort Myers FL at 8:30 pm
- Destination: MTH Marathon FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from MTH, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 15, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.