Cessna 172 accident near Apalachicola, Florida, August 3, 1989
On August 3, 1989 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N64RF, was destroyed in an accident near Apalachicola, Florida. It was an aerial observation 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION CONCERNING ALTITUDE ABOVE THE WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1989 · about 4:10 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Apalachicola, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N64RF · registry record · serial 17267375
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RETURNING FROM A FISH SPOTTING TRIP AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 50 FT, THE ACFT SETTLED INTO THE WATER ABOUT 500 YDS FROM THE SHORE. DURING IMPACT, THE PLT'S SEAT BELT FAILED & HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE ACFT, WHICH SANK. HE STATED LATER THAT UNKNOWN TO HIM AT THE TIME, A MILITARY JET PASSED OVER THE AREA FROM EAST TO WEST, AT LOW ALT, ON A 90 DEG COURSE TO HIS FLT PATH. HOWEVER, HE ALSO STATED THAT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS TO HIM, THE ACFT SETTLED INTO THE WATER IN A STRAIGHT AHEAD & SLIGHTLY LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 12,400 hours in all; 2,600 in this make and model; 246 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,475 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 1988; 734 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PFN Panama City FL at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from AQQ
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N64RF on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,687 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G 21 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 988 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,696 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MIA89LA211.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.