Piper PA-24 accident near Gainesville, Florida, March 26, 1987
On March 26, 1987 at about 7:40 am local time, a Piper PA-24, registered N6143P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gainesville, Florida (Gainesville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 26, 1987 · about 7:40 am local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Florida · Gainesville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24 · all PA-24s on the register
- Registration
- N6143P · no longer on the register · serial 24 1243
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON INSTUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT FILED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN FOR A 5 HOUR FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT LASTED 5 HOURS AND 26 MINUTES WHEN THE PILOT RADIOED CONTROLLERS THAT HE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT ON A TAXIWAY, AND NO FUEL WAS FOUND AT THE SCENE.
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: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGY Dayton OH at 2:26 am
- Destination: GNV Gainesville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:59 am from GNV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.