Piper PA-601P accident near Valparaiso, Florida, December 9, 1982
On December 9, 1982 at about 4:30 am local time, a Piper PA-601P, registered N90692, was destroyed in an accident near Valparaiso, Florida (Eglin, Afb airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- December 9, 1982 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Valparaiso, Florida · Eglin, Afb · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-601P
- Registration
- N90692 · no longer on the register · serial 61P-0335-097
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT REPORTED A LOSS OF THE LEFT ENG. HE WAS IMMEDIATELY CLEARED FOR A LANDING AT EGLIN AFB. WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A LANDING THE LEFT ENG & WING SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE ENG WAS SEPARATED FROM THE WING & SHOWED EVIDENCE OF IN FLIGHT FIRE. THE MOST INTENSE HEAT WAS IN THE ENG ACCESSORY SECTION IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE BENDIX FUEL SERVO & THE INBOARD TURBOCHARGER. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE OIL & FUEL LINES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ACCESSORY SECTION, THE OIL DIPSTICK SHOWED NO OIL & THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THE OIL HAD SPILLED IN THE IMPACT CRATER. ABOUT 25 MIN PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE PLT TELEPHONED THE MAINT. FACILITY WHO HAD ACCOMPLISHED RECENT MAJOR REPAIRS ON THE ACFT & RELATED HE WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH THE LEFT THROTTLE. THE PLT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 959 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,035 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: C Destin FL at 10:25 pm
- Destination: C Huntsville AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12, 12,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 138°F (59°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 pm from VPS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.