Piper PA-23-160 accident near Dorado, Puerto Rico, November 27, 1985
On November 27, 1985 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N4444P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dorado, Puerto Rico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 27, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dorado, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N4444P · no longer on the register · serial 23-1963
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER A BRIEF LOCAL FLIGHT HE WAS RETURNING TO ISLA GRANDE ARPT WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER IN BOTH ENGINES & MADE A FORCED LANDING ON THE BEACH NEAR DORADO PUERTO RICO. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE TWO MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY & THE AUX TANKS CONTAINED ONLY A NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT OF 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 580 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 435 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SIG Isla Grande PR at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from SJU, 24 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.
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.