Cessna T337H accident near Marathon, Florida, July 27, 1986
On July 27, 1986 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna T337H, registered N1343L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marathon, Florida (Marathon Flight airport). 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
- July 27, 1986 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Marathon, Florida · Marathon Flight · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T337H · all T337Hs on the register
- Registration
- N1343L · no longer on the register · serial 33701835
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT ARRIVED FOR THE FLIGHT CARRYING A GLASS FROM A LOCAL BAR, WAS UNCOORDINATED AND APPEARED INTOXICATED. AFTER MUCH DIFFICULTY IN TAXIING TO THE RUNWAY, HE FINALLY TOOK OFF. ON ARRIVAL AT MARATHON, FL, THE PILOT FAILED TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR AND LANDED WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE FAILED A NYSTAGMUS GAZE TEST THAT WAS ADMINISTERED BY LOCAL SHERIFF PERSONNEL.
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: 800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APF Naples FL at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from EYW, 40 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.