Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Islamorada, Florida, July 11, 1983
On July 11, 1983 at about 10:30 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N6207J, was destroyed in an accident near Islamorada, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- July 11, 1983 · about 10:30 am local time
- Place
- Islamorada, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N6207J · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7680318
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE FLORIDA BAY AFTER THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ENG STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND HE DITCHED THE ACFT AT ABOUT 0600 EDT. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CLOCK WAS STOPPED AT 0345 AND A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN SAID HE SAW A LOW FLYING ACFT AT ABOUT 0400 HOURS GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CRASH WITH NO LIGHTS ON. THE ACFT WAS FOUND IN ABOUT 4 FT OF WATER IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN ABOUT 200 YARDS WEST OF THE CALUSA KEY. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN UNAPPROVED CABIN FUEL TANK TRANSFER HOSE PLUMBED TO THE ACFT'S LEFT FUEL TANK. TWO OF THE ACFT SEATS HAD BEEN REMOVED. THE ACFT OWNERS ADDRESS ON THE REGISTRATION BELONGS TO A BUSINESS THAT RENTS MAIL BOXES TO PEOPLE WHO WISH TO REMAIN UNKNOWN. THE PLT SAID HE DID NOT KNOW THE PASSENGER; THE PASSENGER SAID HE HAD JUST MET THE PILOT. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,055 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 1,875 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TMB Miami FL at 10:00 am
- Destination: MTH Marathon FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from TMB, 35 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.