Piper PA-31-350 accident near Clewiston, Florida, October 21, 1983
On October 21, 1983 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N54CG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clewiston, Florida (Clewiston airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. 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 21, 1983 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clewiston, Florida · Clewiston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N54CG · registry record · serial 31-7552130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING A X-WIND LANDING, HE WAS HIGH & FAST ON FINAL APCH & DID NOT UTILIZE THE FULL LENGTH OF THE RWY. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, HE CONSIDERED MAKING A GO-AROUND, BUT WAS NOT SURE WHETHER HE COULD CLEAR POWER LINES NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE LANDING & ALLOW THE ACFT TO ROLL OFF THE END ONTO AN AREA OF GRASS. HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER, A RATED PLT IN THE COPILOT'S SEAT, ALSO APPLIED BRAKES. AT THAT TIME, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, WENT OFF THE RWY AND HIT A FENCE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,843 hours in all; 462 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,663 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming LTIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTY Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11, 2,990 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from FMY, 49 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.