Rockwell 100-180 accident near Paxton, Florida, July 16, 1988
On July 16, 1988 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Rockwell 100-180, registered N3603X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paxton, Florida (Ellis Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 16, 1988 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Paxton, Florida · Ellis Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 100-180
- Registration
- N3603X · no longer on the register · serial 5076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT'S LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED AT TIME OF ACCIDENT AND HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS EXPIRED. PLT FAILED TO GET WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. PLT CONTINUED FLT INTO DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT A PRIVATE AIRPORT DUE TO WEATHER THE PLT COLLIDED WITH UNMARKED POWERLINES LOCATED IN THE APPROACH PATH TO THE RUNWAY.
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: 500 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,849 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1988; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: X16 Tampa FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from CEW, 15 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.