Piper PA-28-140 accident near Near South Bay, Florida, May 17, 1983
On May 17, 1983 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N8235N, was destroyed in an accident near Near South Bay, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- May 17, 1983 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Near South Bay, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8235N · no longer on the register · serial 28-25442
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE ACFT & WAS USING IT TO COMMUTE ON A WEEKLY BASIS BETWEEN HIS RESIDENCE IN HIALEAH & LA BELLE WHERE HE WORKED AS AN ACFT MECHANIC. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND COMPLETELY SUBMERGED IN A CANAL AFTER A FLORIDA FISH & GAME OFFICIAL BECAME SUSPICIOUS WHEN HE OBSERVED SOME SMALL DEBRIS HANGING FROM A POWERLINE. VFR WX PREVAILED IN MIAMI DURING THE 0830 DEPARTURE. HOWEVER, A WITNESS AT THE LA BELLE ARPT STATED THAT AFTER 0700 FOG COMPLETELY COVERED THE ARPT & VISIBILITY WAS DOWN TO 30 FT. THE WIND THEN PICKED UP AROUND 1000 & BETWEEN 1030 & 1100 THE WIND BLEWTHE FOG AWAY.
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: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OPF Miami FL
- Destination: X41 La Belle FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded at 100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 am from PBI, 41 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.