Piper PA-28-140 accident near Everglades City, Florida, May 6, 1988
On May 6, 1988 at about 3:50 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N285DP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Everglades City, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 6, 1988 · about 3:50 am local time
- Place
- Everglades City, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N285DP · registry record · serial 287725206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED WHEN THE FLT DEPARTED, THERE WAS 33 GALS OF FUEL ABOARD FOR THE X-C DAYLIGHT FLIGHT. FUEL BURN FOR THE ACFT WAS APPROX 8 GPH. THE FLT TO THE DEST REQUIRED ABOUT 1.5 HRS. THE PLT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO REFUEL AT HIS DESTINATION, BUT THE FBO WAS CLOSED FOR HIS NIGHT RETURN FLT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD HEADWINDS ON THE RETURN FLT & HAD TO FLY WELL EAST OF HIS INTENDED COURSE IN ORDER TO STAY OVER LIGHTED AREAS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A HORIZON. WHILE OVER THE EVERGLADES & DECLARING TO ATC THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL, HE WAS BEING RADAR VECTORED TO THE NEAREST ARPT WHEN THE ENG QUIT & A NIGHT FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED. A LDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON A DIRT ROAD, BUT THE ROAD CURVED AND THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT MAKE THE CURVE AND HIT A TREE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT.
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: 91 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 62 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,641 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 22, 1987; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYW Key West FL
- Destination: FMY Fort Myers FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 am from FMY, 46 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.