Piper PA-32R accident near Cedar Key, Florida, November 14, 1986
On November 14, 1986 at about 11:59 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R, registered N20816, 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; 5 people were 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 14, 1986 · about 11:59 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Key, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R · all PA-32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N20816 · registry record · serial 32R8029001
- 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 WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHTED WIND SOCK FROM 1000 FT AS HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH ITS LOCATION. THE ACFT LANDED DOWNWIND ON THE RWY & WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END. A 15 TO 20 KT TAILWIND WAS PRESENT AT THE TIME. THE PLT STATED THAT IF HE HAD LANDED INTO THE WIND, THE NIGHT LANDING ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,001 hours in all; 1,038 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,826 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,506 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VRB Vero Beach FL
- Destination: CDK Cedar Key FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from GNV, 52 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.