Piper PA-22 accident near Port Richie, Florida, December 10, 1983
On December 10, 1983 at about 1:38 am local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3719, was destroyed in an accident near Port Richie, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was 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
- December 10, 1983 · about 1:38 am local time
- Place
- Port Richie, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3719 · registry record · serial 22-5437
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES DURING A NIGHT FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. THE SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID HE HAD METTHE TWO PLTS IN A BAR WHERE THEY DRANK BEER. THEY LATER WENT TO THE ARPT AND FLEW X-COUNTRY ABOUT 70 MILES TO EAT & HAVE MORE BEER. THEY TOOK OUT BEER FOR THE RETURN TRIP. DURING THE FLT BACK THE ENGINE QUIT, WAS RESTARTED & QUIT AGAIN.THE PASSENGER STATED THERE WAS NO FIRE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FUEL. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN EITHER TANK. A CARDBOARD BOX LINED WITH PLASTIC CONTAINING UNMELTED ICE & BEER WAS FOUND ON THE BACK SEAT FLOOR. THE TWO PLT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS WERE 0.217% & 0.386%.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 75 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,516 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1982; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-TC274 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDK Cedar Key FL
- Destination: CLW Clearwater FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.