Piper PA-28-161 accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, November 10, 1987
On November 10, 1987 at about 2:52 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N82811, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida (Albert Whitted airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- November 10, 1987 · about 2:52 am local time
- Place
- St. Petersburg, Florida · Albert Whitted · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N82811 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8316003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT, FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT, OVERFLEW IT 2 TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACTIVATE THE RWY LIGHTS USING THE ACFT'S RADIO AS WELL AS TO OBSERVE THE WIND SOCK. AFTER OBSERVING A NORTHERLY WIND & BEING UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE LIGHTS HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 36 RATHER THAN DIVERT TO ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER INTL ARPT. THE ACFT FLOATED OVER THE NUMBERS, TOUCHED DOWN APRX 528 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY, & AS IT APPROACHED THE SEAWALL, HE APPLIED FULL UP ELEVATOR. THE ACFT THEN BECAME AIRBORNE MOMENTARILY, FLEW OVER THE SEAWALL AND LANDED IN TAMPA BAY IN APRX 18 FEET OF WATER. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE OBSERVED THE WINDS TO BE FROM THE SOUTH. THE RWY LIGHTS WERE CHECKED BY FAA PERSONNEL TO INSURE THAT THEY COULD BE ACTIVATED BY USING THE UNICOM FREQUENCY 122.95, & FOUND TO OPERATE SATISFACTORY. A NOTE FOUND BY POLICE IN THE WRECKAGE READ 'LIGHTS 121.95.'
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: 126 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 53 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNA Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,801 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 am from SPG
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.