Amateur-built DHC2 accident near Titusville, Florida, October 1, 1983
On October 1, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC2, registered N31339, was substantially damaged in an accident near Titusville, Florida (Arthur Dunn airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. 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
- October 1, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Arthur Dunn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC2
- Registration
- N31339 · registry record · serial 1403
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK WHILE TAKING OFF BUT MANAGED TO STAY AIRBORNE, FLY A MISSION AND RETURN TO A NORMAL LANDING. THE PRIVATE PLT WAS REPORTEDLY CARRYING 8 PASSENGERS FOR A PARACHUTE DROP. HE WOULD NOT ADMIT HE WAS CARRYING PASSENGERS AND NONE OF THE PASSENGERS WOULD GIVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT. ONE OF THE JUMPERS STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE PLT FLEW THE ACFT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY WHERE THE GROUND CREW TRUCK WAS PARKED. THE TAIL WHEEL OF THE ACFT HIT THEROOF OF THE TRUCK. ONE OF THE JUMPERS SAID THAT THE PRIVATE PLT WAS PAID TO FLY THEM. THE PILOT'S ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGE WAS LOOSENED BRACKETS ON THE TAIL WHEEL ATTACHMENT. NO ONE WAS REPORTED AS INJURED.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1983; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-39 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from COF, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 8 |
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.