Piper PA-24-250 accident near Navarre, Florida, March 11, 1987
On March 11, 1987 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7645P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Navarre, 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
- March 11, 1987 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Navarre, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7645P · no longer on the register · serial 24-2859
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED TO THE RT TANK, AT AN ALT OF APRX 250 FEET, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT FORCE LANDED THE ACFT IN AN INTER COASTAL WATERWAY WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. INSP OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AFTER THE RT WING FUEL TANK COLLAPSED FORCING THE FUEL OUT THE TANK FILLER CAP. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT LOGBOOKS AD 68-13-03 WHICH PREVENTS FUEL EXHAUSTION CAUSED BY FUEL CELL COLLAPSE & LOSS OF FUEL THROUGH THE TANK FILLER CAPS, HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
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: 43 hours in all; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-AIA5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 2R4 Milton FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from PNS, 19 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.