Piper PA-31-350 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, March 26, 1986
On March 26, 1986 at about 5:00 am local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N3527E, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 people were killed. 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
- March 26, 1986 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N3527E · no longer on the register · serial 31-7952138
- 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 DESTINATION ON A VFR FLIGHT FROM MIAMI FL, TO WEST END, BAHAMAS. THE ACFT'S LAST REPORTED POSITION WAS 10 MILES WEST OF WEST END. THERE WAS NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE ACFT. U.S. COAST GUARD INITIATED SEARCH ON MARCH 26, 1986 & SUSPENDED SEARCH ON MARCH 28, 1986
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: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: TMB Miami FL at 2:36 pm
- Destination: MYGW Freeport OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from MYGF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.