Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Jacksonville, Florida, August 12, 1985
On August 12, 1985 at about 12:42 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N6522C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida (Jacksonville Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- August 12, 1985 · about 12:42 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Jacksonville Int'L
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N6522C · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7887003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ENROUTE HE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. DURING APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT HE COULD NOT GET THE LANDING GEAR TO EXTEND AND HE MADE A GEAR UP LANDING. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS RAISED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED AND LOCKED. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND LANDING GEAR SYSTEM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 715 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 566 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,343 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1974; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OR1 Atmore AL at 10:15 am
- Destination: 23J Jacksonville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 7, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from JAX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.