Piper PA-23-250 accident near La Belle, Florida, October 6, 1988
On October 6, 1988 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N6815Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Belle, Florida. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 6, 1988 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- La Belle, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6815Y · no longer on the register · serial 27-4154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WHILE ON A FERRY PERMIT FLIGHT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE #4 CYL OF THE LEFT ENGINE AND DID NOT ATTAIN THE VYSE SPEED AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DESCEND. THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRCRAFT IN A LAKE AND IT WAS NOT RECOVERED. NO RECORDS ON THE ENGINES OR AIRFRAME WERE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE OF THE ENG HAD OPENED THE COWLING ON THE DEAD ENG WHICH ADDED CONSIDERABLE DRAG TO THE AIRFRAME, REDUCING THE AIRSPEED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,800 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 6,575 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1988; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Souther Field Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: FYW Key West FL at 8:30 pm
- Destination: ACJ Americus GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.