Piper PA-32-260 accident near Sebastian, Florida, June 5, 1983
On June 5, 1983 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N4724S, was destroyed in an accident near Sebastian, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 people were 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
- June 5, 1983 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Sebastian, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N4724S · no longer on the register · serial 32-1163
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FLT, THE PLT CONTACTED VERO BEACH TOWER & REQUESTED THE WX. HE WAS ADVISED THAT VERO BEACH & FT PIERCE, FL WERE VFR, BUT THERE WAS WX NORTH OF VERO BEACH, A CONVECTIVE SIGMET WAS IN EFFECT & THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED THE TRANSMISSION & INDICATED HE WAS IN THE AREA OF THE VALKARIA ARPT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD OVERFLOWN THE VALKAPIA ARPT & WOULD PROCEED SOUTH TO VERO BEACH. ABOUT 4 MIN LATER, HE ADVISED THAT HE WAS NORTH OF VERO BEACH IN IFR WX & THAT HE WAS GOING TO REVERSE COURSE & GO BACK TO VALKARIA. THE PLT'S LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION WAS MADE AT 1820 EDT. THE NEXT MORNING, ACFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN THAT SAME VICINITY WHERE THE PLANE HAD IMPACTED IN THE INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT IT HAD CRASHED IN A NEAR INVERTED, NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS, LIGHTNING & HEAVY SHOWERS WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA.
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
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,679 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 9, 1983; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2RR River Ranch FL
- Destination: FPR Ft. Pierce FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 18 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:36 pm from VRB, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.