Piper PA-28-140 accident near Panacea, Florida, April 23, 1984
On April 23, 1984, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1734J, was destroyed in an accident near Panacea, 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
- April 23, 1984
- Place
- Panacea, 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
- N1734J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24148
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT CRASHED IN WATER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. ONE WITNESS STATED THE ACFT ENTERED THE WATER IN A STEEP LEFT BANK AT A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. WITNESSES ALSO STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 50 TO 200 FT MSL, VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 1/2 MILE AND THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE, AIRFRAME AND/OR FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS.
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
- Flight time: 70 hours in all; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1983; 6,291 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2JO Panacea FL
- Destination: HWD Ft.Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded at 600 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:01 am from TLH, 25 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.