Piper PA-34-200T accident near Boca Raton, Florida, July 12, 2001
On July 12, 2001 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N3054J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boca Raton, Florida (Boca Ration airport). It was a business 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 loss of engine power, and the pilot unable to feather the propeller for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing on a highway, subsequent impact with a pole and vehicles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2001 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Boca Raton, Florida · Boca Ration · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N3054J · no longer on the register · serial 34-79700065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Just after takeoff the pilot reported that the left engine lost power. He checked that the mixture, propellers, and throttles were all full forward, and that the fuel selector was "on." He said, "...I checked the fuel selectors by feel only." He recycled the left engine feather control and made the decision to land gear up. He retracted the landing gear, and attempted to feather the left engine again without success. At this point he could not maintain altitude or airspeed, estimated that his altitude was "between 150-200 feet," and the airspeed had decayed to 78 knots (83 was Vmc). He elected to land on an interstate highway, before the airplane started a Vmc roll. He landed in a southerly direction on the northbound lanes of the highway, first striking a light pole with the left wing, and then seven vehicles. After coming to a stop, the two occupants evacuated the airplane after the passenger said he was "in a puddle of fuel." The pilot stated that he "..…reached down and moved the fuel selectors back. They were full forward in the 'on' position. I missed the 'off ' and mistakenly moved them to crossfeed as I exited the airplane." Examination of the fuel selectors at the crash site revealed that both engine fuel selectors were in the "crossfeed" position. The left engine was test run, and no discrepancies were found. Fuel was found in the left engine. The fuel was visually examined for contamination and water, none was observed. Examination of the right engine revealed, no discrepancies.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,038 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,627 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 28, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,973 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 2000; 121 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-EBIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCT Boca Raton FL at 9:34 pm
- Destination: SFB Sanford FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,267 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:33 pm from BCT, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.