Piper PA-24-250 accident near Fellsmere, Florida, April 19, 1985
On April 19, 1985 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5836P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fellsmere, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 19, 1985 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Fellsmere, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5836P · registry record · serial 24-917
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION IN AN OPEN FIELD. ON THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSEWHEEL STRUCK A DITCH CAUSING IT TO FOLD AND THE ACFT CAME TO A STOP RESTING ON IT'S NOSE. THE PLT HAD DETERMINED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD PRIOR TO TAKEOFF BY STICKING A TWIG IN THE TANKS. THE FLT LASTED FOR 40 MINS. ACCORDING TO PUBLISHED INFO BY THE ACFT MANUFACTURER, AT 75% POWER AT 1000 FT, FUEL CONSUMPTION IS 10 GPH. THE PLT STATED HE THOUGHT HE HAD 22 GALS OF FUEL PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS BY FAA PERSONNEL AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL.
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: 222 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 7 in the last 30 days; 149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1985; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X32 Ellenton FL
- Destination: VERB Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:32 am from VRB, 10 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.
Other NTSB records under N5836P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.