Piper PA-28-181 accident near Orlando, Florida, November 21, 1984
On November 21, 1984 at about 4:58 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N82108, was destroyed in an accident near Orlando, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- November 21, 1984 · about 4:58 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N82108 · no longer on the register · serial 288090299
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
NUMEROUS WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGINE SPUTTER AND THEN STOP. THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT THE PARKING LOT. WHILE MANEUVERING AT VERY LOW ALTITUDES AND AIRSPEEDS, THE LEFT WING HIT A LIGHT POLE. THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 79 HOURS LOGGED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LINES OR IN THE FUEL TANKS.
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: 82 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,729 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 5, 1984; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GMU Greenville SC at 1:49 pm
- Destination: ISM Kissimmee FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft; not recorded at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MCO, 14 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.