Piper PA-28-R accident near Cedar Key, Florida, August 27, 1986
On August 27, 1986 at about 3:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-R, registered N4524J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Key, Florida. 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
- August 27, 1986 · about 3:37 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Key, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-R · all PA-28-Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4524J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30382
- 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 HE LOST FUEL PRESSURE AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ACFT WERE TO NO AVAIL. HE TRIED TO MAKE IT TO CEDAR KEY BUT WAS UNABLE AND DITCHED IN THE OCEAN WATERS 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF CEDAR KEY. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED SUFFICIENT FUEL. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY BLOCKAGE AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING A BENCH TEST OF THE FUEL INJECTION SERVO. DETERMINATION COULD NOT BE MADE AS TO THE NATURE OF THE MALFUNCTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT.
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: student
- Flight time: 275 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 275 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,940 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEM Selma AL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: TPA Tampa FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from GNV, 50 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.