Piper PA-24-250 accident near Perry, Florida, September 3, 1989
On September 3, 1989 at about 11:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N4CD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Perry, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO WEAR AND RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA CONTRIBUTED TO OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1989 · about 11:02 pm local time
- Place
- Perry, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N4CD · registry record · serial 24-1367
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE AT 3500 FT, THE ENG LOST POWER & ATTEMPTS TO RESTART IT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PLT LANDED THE ACFT IN A PLOWED FIELD, BUT THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED. AN INTERNAL EXAM REVEALED THE FLOAT-TO-BOWL CLEARANCE WAS LESS THAN REQUIRED DUE TO FLOAT SHAFT BRACKET WEAR. EXCESSIVE FLOAT DROP (BETWEEN 1.58 & 1.8 INCHES) WAS REQUIRED TO START THE NEEDLE VALVE OPENING & ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE CHAMBER. ALSO, THE FLOAT CHAFFED THE WALL OF THE CARBURETOR BOWL PRIOR TO THE NEEDLE VALVE OPENING. NO OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DHN Dothan AL at 10:00 pm
- Destination: LAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:50 pm from TLH, 45 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.