Piper PA-31-310 accident near Moore Haven, Florida, February 17, 1986
On February 17, 1986, a Piper PA-31-310, registered N7EA, was destroyed in an accident near Moore Haven, Florida. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- February 17, 1986
- Place
- Moore Haven, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-310 · all PA-31-310s on the register
- Registration
- N7EA · registry record · serial 31-117
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON FEBRUARY 17, 1986 THE WRECKAGE OF N7EA ALONG WITH THE SKELETAL REMAINS OF TWO PERSONS WERE FOUND. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES CAUSING THE SEPARATION OF THE OUTBOARD SIX FEET OF LEFT WING AND THEN CONTINUED CRASHING THROUGH MORE TREES BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE ACFT CAUGHT FIRE DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY POST CRASH FIRE. FUEL FITTINGS AND PUMPS USED IN ACFT FUEL SYSTEMS WERE FOUND IN THE CABIN AREA OF THE WRECKAGE. ALSO THE CLOSURE MECHANISMS FOR SEVERAL MILITARY TYPE DUFFLE BAGS WERE FOUND AND ONLY TWO SEATS WERE INSTALLED IN THE COCKPIT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGS REVEALED BOTH TO BE OPERABLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DATE AND TIME OF THE ACCIDENT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE ORIGIN AND DESTINATION OF THE FLT COULD ALSO NOT BE DETERMINED. THE ACFT WAS LAST SEEN AT THE FT. LAUDERDALE EXECUTIVE ARPT ON 2/3/86.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Unknown
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.