Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Bahamas, Bf, July 12, 1985
On July 12, 1985, a Piper PA-32R-301, registered N8341L, was destroyed in an accident near Bahamas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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 12, 1985
- Place
- Bahamas, Burkina Faso
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8341L · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8313009
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT IT'S INTENDED DESTINATION ON A FLT FROM NASSAU, BAHAMAS TO OPA LOCKA ARPT, MIAMI, FL. THE ACFT WAS REPORTED MISSING BY THE MIAMI FSS. THE U.S. COAST GUARD INITIATED A SEARCH ON 07-12-85 AT ABOUT 1831 EDT & SEARCH WAS SUSPENDED ON 07-17-85. THE WHERE ABOUTS OF THE FOUR OCCUPANTS ARE UNKNOWN & THEY ARE PRESUMED FATAL. THE ACFT IS MISSING & THE DAMAGE INDEX IS PRESUMED TO BE DESTROYED.
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: 225 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYNN Nassau OF at 7:12 pm
- Destination: OPF Opa Locka FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; not recorded at 22,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from MYNN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.