Piper PA-28-180 accident near Madeira Beach, Florida, June 25, 1988
On June 25, 1988 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N15986, was destroyed in an accident near Madeira Beach, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- June 25, 1988 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Madeira Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N15986 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7305207
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE BAY WHEN THE LEFT WING DIPPED INTO THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED AND SANK. WITNESSES SAID THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN BUZZING HOMES AND BOATS ALL ALONG THE COAST, FROM CLEARWATER SOUTH TO THE AREA OF THE CRASH. TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE PILOT REVEALED A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.25%. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE OPERATOR OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT POSSESS AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE OR A STUDENT PILOT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REGISTERED TO THE PILOT'S DECEASED FATHER. ACCORDING TO PERSONNEL AT THE AIRPORT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS BASED, THE PILOT HAD BEEN USING THE AIRPLANE SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON MAY 16, 1988.
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: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,639 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1988; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLW Clearwater FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 82°F (28°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PIE, 10 miles away
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.