Piper PA-24-180 accident near South Brooksville, Florida, November 24, 2025
On November 24, 2025 at about 7:27 pm local time, a 1963 Piper PA-24-180, registered N8328P, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near South Brooksville, Florida (Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 2025 · about 7:27 pm local time
- Place
- South Brooksville, Florida · Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180, built 1963 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8328P · registry record · serial 24-3581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 24, 2025, about 1427 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-180, N8328P, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near South Brooksville, Florida. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the flight originated from Talladega Municipal Airport (ASN), Talladega, Alabama, and continued to Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport (GVL), Gainesville, Georgia, where two passengers were boarded. The intended route was to proceed to Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida, and then return to ASN. The pilot departed ASN about 0830 with 56 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane and landed at GVL about 0930. The pilot then departed GVL about 1100. Throughout the flight, the pilot monitored fuel consumption using the fuel gauges and switched fuel tanks every 30 minutes. About 3 hours into the flight to LAL, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the electric fuel pump, and engine power was restored. The pilot contacted air traffic control and was advised that Brooksville Tampa Bay Regional Airport (BKV), Tampa, Florida, was about 3 miles ahead. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a total loss of power. Unable to restore power, he declared an emergency and performed a forced landing in a field. During the subsequent landing, with the landing gear retracted, the right wing and right stabilator impacted a fence before the airplane came to rest in a grassy field about 2 miles northwest of BKV. Photographs taken by a Hernando County Sheriff’s Office deputy showed substantial damage to the right stabilator. The photographs also indicated that no fuel was visible in the fuel tanks. The airplane was retained for further examination.
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 (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (cruise)
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,148.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 2025; 17.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: GVL Gainesville GA at 4:24 pm
- Destination: LAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09/2, 7,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from BKV, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBKV 241753Z 14006KT 10SM CLR 27/18 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP192 T02720183 10278 20172 58019
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.