Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Freeport, Florida, November 18, 1984
On November 18, 1984 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N4316P, was destroyed in an accident near Freeport, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- November 18, 1984 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Freeport, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N4316P · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8329038
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PREFLT WX BRIEF INCLUDED ADVISORY FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS ALONG ROUTE OF FLT. DEPARTED IN VFR CONDITIONS BUT ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WX ENROUTE, RECEIVED INFLT WX ADVISORY TO EXPECT LOW CLNGS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY AHEAD. PLT STATED HE 'WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER. 'ABOUT 50 MINS LATER, PLT REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO ASSIST IN CIRCUMNAVIGATING RAIN SHOWERS. VECOTR GIVEN BUT ACFT TGT OBSERVED NOT FOLLOWING VECTOR. PLT NEXT REQUEDTED A HEADING TO 'GET HIM OUT OF WEATHER.' STATING HE WAS IN RAIN AND 'HAVING A HARD TIME.' TGT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED ACFT IMPACTED IN HEAVILY WOODED AREA IN NEAR-VERTICAL ATTITUDE AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. WITNESSES HEARD SOUNDS OF HIGH ENGINE POWER PRIOR TO IMPACT; CITED WX CONDS AS DRIVING RAIN, GUSTY WINDS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY IN RAIN AND OVERCAST-INDUCED DARKNESS.
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: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 250 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 25, 1984; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL
- Destination: PNS Pensacola FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:42 pm from VPS, 20 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.