Piper PA-23-250 accident near Marathon, Florida, November 7, 1986
On November 7, 1986 at about 1:13 am local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N2107C, was destroyed in an accident near Marathon, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 7, 1986 · about 1:13 am local time
- Place
- Marathon, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N2107C · no longer on the register · serial 27-12
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE BEING FOLLOWED AT A LOW ALTITUDE BY A UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE AIRCRAFT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED ENTERING A LEFT TURN. THE LEFT WING TIP OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE WATER AND IT CARTWHEELED. AFTER THE CRASH, BALES OF AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE FLOATED TO THE SURFACE. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS INSPECTED BY DIVERS, THE LARGEST PORTION OF WRECKAGE WAS FOUND TO BE A SECTION OF THE TAIL. NO SIGNS OF THE OCCUPANTS OR THE BALES THAT FLOATED TO THE SURFACE WERE FOUND. THE AIRCRAFTS REGISTERED OWNER COULD NOT BE LOCATED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SOLD TO THE REGISTERED OWNER 3 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 4,800 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.