Piper PA-24-250 accident near Long Boat Key, Florida, May 31, 1991
On May 31, 1991 at about 1:26 am local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6376P, was destroyed in an accident near Long Boat Key, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE WATER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1991 · about 1:26 am local time
- Place
- Long Boat Key, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6376P · no longer on the register · serial 1495
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR TO BE FLYING DIFFERENT HEADINGS THAN THE REQUESTED ONES. THE CREW STATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO. WHILE OVER WATER AT NIGHT THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT. WITNESSES ON THE BEACH OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN A SPIN UNTIL WATER CONTACT. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED AND ONLY ONE PILOT'S BODY WAS LOCATED.
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: 75 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRQ Sarasota FL at 1:16 am
- Destination: PIE St. Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Observation at 1:50 am from PIE, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.