Piper PA-32-301 accident near Marco, Florida, April 27, 1984
On April 27, 1984 at about 12:27 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N81701, was destroyed in an accident near Marco, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 27, 1984 · about 12:27 pm local time
- Place
- Marco, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N81701 · no longer on the register · serial 32-820627
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT DEPARTED FORT MYERS, FL AT 0550 & ARRIVED AT KEY WEST, FL AT 0655. THE FLT THEN DEPARTED KEY WEST AT 0710 FOR THE RETURN FLT. AT 0722, THE PLT REPORTED TO ARTCC THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING ENG FAILURE & COULD GET NO FUEL PRESSURE. THE ACFT WAS DITCHED 29 MI SOUTH OF MARCO, FL IN THE GULF MEXICO. THE PLT STATED THAT ON DEPARTURE FROM FORT MYERS, HE ESTIMATED HE HAD 40-50 GALS OF FUEL USING THE COCKPIT GAGES.HE DID NOT CHECK THE MECHANICAL GAGES IN THE WINGS, WHICH HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED & CALIBRATED ON 3/6/84. THE PLT, WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THE ACFT, ESTIMATED THERE WAS ABOUT 20 GALS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE PARKED THE ACFT. THE ACFT WAS NOT REFUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTING FORT MYERS OR AT KEY WEST.
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: 632 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 502 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 23, 1984; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYW Key West FL at 12:10 pm
- Destination: EMY Fort Myers FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from EYW, 55 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.