North American B-25-J accident near Titusville, Florida, April 2, 1987
On April 2, 1987 at about 12:34 pm local time, a North American B-25-J, registered N25NA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Titusville, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 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
- April 2, 1987 · about 12:34 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American B-25-J · all B-25-Js on the register
- Registration
- N25NA · registry record · serial 44-86725
- 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 IN THE VICINITY OF MELBOURNE FL WHEN THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILED. HE SECURED THE RIGHT ENGINE AND TURNED BACK TOWARDS NEW SMYRNA BEACH, BUT AS HE WAS NEARING TICO AIRPORT THE LEFT ENGINE ALSO FAILED. THE PILOT, REALIZING HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE AIRPORT, ELECTED TO LAND IN A POND NEXT TO I-95 NEAR TITUSVILLE, FL. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINES REVEALED THAT BOTH ENGINES FAILED INTERNALLY IN THE REAR BANK AREA. NO EXACT DETERMINATION OF THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURES COULD BE MADE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE DURING THE FAILURE SEQUENCE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,225 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 23, 1987; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 33,500 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright 2600 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 34J New Smyrna Bch FL
- Destination: MYAW Walkers Cay OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from TIX, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.