Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Kissimmee, Florida, September 28, 1989
On September 28, 1989 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8107T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kissimmee, 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
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FALSE FUEL GAGE INDICATIONS AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1989 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Kissimmee, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8107T · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8229033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DID NOT RECHECK THE ACFT'S FUEL AT AN INTERMEDIATE STOP. AFTER HE DEPARTED & WAS IN CRUISE FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT RPRTD THAT THE FUEL GAGES INDCD THE TANKS WERE NEARLY HALF FULL AT THAT TIME. DURING A SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & WAS DAMAGED. A POST-ACDNT EXAM OF THE ACFT FUEL SYS REVEALED ABOUT 20 OUNCES FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE LEFT TANK WAS SPLIT OPEN, BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL RESIDUE ON THE GROUND BELOW THE TANK. DURING AN OPNL CHECK OF THE ENG, IT STARTED & RAN NORMALLY
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1989; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-1AB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Orlando
The flight
- Departed from: AVO Avon Park FL at 6:00 pm
- Destination: ORL Orlando FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:58 pm from MCO, 16 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.