Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Hilliard, Florida, July 6, 1989
On July 6, 1989 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N9473N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hilliard, Florida. It was a personal 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 INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT EXAMINATION BY THE PILOT, AFTER REFUELING, WHICH FAILED TO DETECT WATER IN THE FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1989 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Hilliard, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N9473N · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35190
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED ABOUT 3 OZ OF WATER IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED DURING TESTING AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT SAID HE NORMALLY PARKED THE AIRPLANE IN AN OPEN T HANGAR WITH FUEL TANKS PARTIALLY FILLED. ADDITIONALLY THERE WERE HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA SINCE THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST FLOWN, THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE FUEL SUMPS WERE DRAINED, 19.9 GAL. OF FUEL ADDED, BUT NOT REDRAINED FOLLOWING THE FUELING.
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: 2,207 hours in all; 1,322 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,137 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O1J at 7:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from JAX, 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.