Piper PA28 accident near Merritt Island, Florida, October 5, 2024
On October 5, 2024 at about 6:50 pm local time, a 1989 Piper PA28, registered N207AB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Merritt Island, Florida (Merritt Island 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
A worn fuel selector valve, which resulted in a restriction of fuel flow to the engine and a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2024 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Merritt Island, Florida · Merritt Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 161, built 1989 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N207AB · registry record · serial 2841284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A pilot and safety pilot had planned a cross-country flight to build flight time. During the initial climb after takeoff, about 200 ft above ground level, the engine started to run rough. The pilot engaged the starter in an attempt to restart the engine and turned back to the airport. The engine briefly regained power before it lost total power as they turned onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern, so they decided to land downwind on the departure runway. The airplane was fast and touched down long on the runway. Both the pilot and passenger applied heavy braking. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway and impacted terrain. The nose landing gear separated, resulting in substantial damage to the engine mounts. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the fuel selector valve was worn, and that when the fuel selector was placed in the left tank detent, the indicator handle could be manipulated past the detent such that fuel flow from that tank to the engine was restricted. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine were otherwise identified. Based on this information, it is likely that the condition of the fuel selector valve resulted in a restriction of fuel flow to the engine and the subsequent total loss of engine power during initial climb.
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
- Landing area overshoot during emergency descent
- Runway excursion during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,150 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 18, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 5,246 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FIN Flagler FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,601 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from TIX, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTIX 051847Z 09005KT 7SM SCT 040 33/21 A2998
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 2025. 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 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Service Bulletin | PDF, 4 pages | 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 N207AB 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.