Piper PA-24-260 accident near Espanola, Florida, July 27, 1984
On July 27, 1984 at about 4:00 am local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N56JG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Espanola, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- July 27, 1984 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Espanola, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N56JG · no longer on the register · serial 24-4201
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WITHOUT FLT PLAN AND NO FLT HISTORY WAS FOUND ABANDONED IN A FIELD WITH 14 BALES OF MARIJUANA LOCATED IN AND AROUND THE WRECKAGE. NO OWNER OR PLT HAS BEEN LOCATED. CUSTOMS AGENTS TRACKING THE ACFT LOST CONTACT IN A THUNDERSTORM BETWEEN DAYTONA AND SANFORD, FL.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Unknown
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from CRG, 40 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.