Piper PA-38-112 accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, May 11, 1986
On May 11, 1986 at about 11:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N4374E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 11, 1986 · about 11:47 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N4374E · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FLT EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DESCENDING FOR LANDING. WHILE APPROACHING A FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK ELECTRICAL POWER LINES AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE FIELD. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED TO FULL POWER AFTER THE ACCIDENT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. POST CRASH CALCULATIONS REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD HAVE HAD 12 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATION UNDER CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING AT GLIDE POWER HOWEVER THE PILOT STATED CARBURETOR HEAT WAS USED THROUGHOUT THE DESCENT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM REVEALED IT TO BE INTACT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 174 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,579 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 24, 1986; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: FMY Fort Myers FL at 10:03 pm
- Destination: DAB Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from DAB, 5 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.