Cessna 320E accident near Melrose, Florida, February 17, 1989
On February 17, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 320E, registered N3488Q, was destroyed in an accident near Melrose, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPLY PROMPTLY WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS AND HIS LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Melrose, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320E · all 320Es on the register
- Registration
- N3488Q · no longer on the register · serial 0088
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INITIATED A CROSSCOUNTRY FLIGHT AND ENCOUNTERED IMC CONDITIONS NEAR HIS DESTINATION. HE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN IFR CLEARANCE. THE PILOT CONSISTENTLY DID NOT RESPOND TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS. THE FINAL ATC VECTOR TO INTERCEPT THE LOCALIZER COURSE REQUIRED A 220 DEGREE RIGHT TURN WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A 30 DEGREE ANGLE OF INTERCEPT. DURING THE TURN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FARM YARD. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING STRONG ENGINE SOUNDS PRIOR TO IMPACT. EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. EXAM OF THE PROPS SHOWED IMPACT DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH CRUISE POWER. THE WRECKAGE EXAM INDICATED THE GEAR AND FLAPS IN THE UP AND RETRACTED POSITION. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE PILOT'S RECENCY OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE OR INSTRUMENT COMPETENCY.
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: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MKY Marco Island FL at 8:30 pm
- Destination: GNU Gainesville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from GNV, 17 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.