Rockwell 690A accident near Winter Haven, Florida, February 13, 1983
On February 13, 1983 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Rockwell 690A, registered N81416, was destroyed in an accident near Winter Haven, Florida (Gilbert airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 13, 1983 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Winter Haven, Florida · Gilbert · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 690A
- Registration
- N81416 · no longer on the register · serial 11306
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A DITCH OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY AND BURST INTO FLAMES DURING TAKEOFF. WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT DID NOT SOUND LIKE IT WAS DEVELOPING NORMAL RPM FOR TAKEOFF. ONE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINES SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE STILL IN GROUND IDLE POSITION. THE SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID THEY DIDN'T GET ENOUGH SPEED TO TAKEOFF BUT HE DID NOT SUSPECT ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS. ANOTHER GROUND WITNESS SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE PROPELLERS WERE IN VERY HIGH OR CRUISE PITCH. AFTER THE ACCIDENT BOTH PROPELLERS WERE AT OR NEAR THE FEATHER POSITION. TOXICOLOGY STUDIES ON THE PILOT SHOWED HIS BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.22%. HE ALSO HAD CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,400 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 10,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Airesearch TPE331-5-251K (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MACA Aruba,N.Antille
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded at 500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from LAL, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.