Cessna 411A accident near Gainsville, Florida, January 12, 1984
On January 12, 1984 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 411A, registered N4500Q, was destroyed in an accident near Gainsville, Florida (Gainsville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- January 12, 1984 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gainsville, Florida · Gainsville
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 411A · all 411As on the register
- Registration
- N4500Q · no longer on the register · serial 411-0300
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE ON A ILS APPROACH TO THE GAINSVILLE, AIRPORT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT HAD ADVISED APPROACH CONTROL THAT HE WAS 'LOW ON FUEL.' AFTER TWO MISSED APPROACHES THE PLT RADIOED THAT HE WAS 'OUT OF FUEL.' THE PLT DID NOT HAVE CHARTS OR APPROACH PLATES ABOARD THE ACFT, HOWEVER ATC WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS FACTOR. ATTEMPTS TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE PLT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.
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: commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXD Conroe TX
- Destination: GNV Gainesville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:37 pm from GNV, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.