Amateur-built PJ-1 (ADVENTURE) accident near Merritt Island, Florida, April 28, 1984
On April 28, 1984 at about 9:55 pm local time, a amateur-built PJ-1 (ADVENTURE), registered N1181D, was destroyed in an accident near Merritt Island, Florida (Merritt Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- April 28, 1984 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Merritt Island, Florida · Merritt Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PJ-1 (ADVENTURE) PJ-1 (ADVE
- Registration
- N1181D · no longer on the register · serial 013
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE PLT WAS MANEUVERING ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND ON RWY 11, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN THE BACKYARD OF A RESIDENCE. THE PLT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES & COULD NOT RECALL DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER THE PLT TOOK OFF WITH AN ESTIMATED 12 GALS OF FUEL ON BOARD. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS, BUT THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE FUEL HAD LEAKED OUT AFTER THE PLANE CRASHED. FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE CARBURETOR & FUEL LINES.
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: 1,391 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1984
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COI at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from MLB, 10 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.