Piper PA38-112 accident near South Port, Florida, June 5, 1991
On June 5, 1991 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA38-112, registered N2549A, was destroyed in an accident near South Port, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ALTITUDE RESULTING IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH ELECTRICAL LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1991 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- South Port, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA38-112 · all PA38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2549A · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0750
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FLIGHT COLLIDED WITH TOP WIRES OF ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES WHICH CROSSED A LAKE. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT OPERATING IN A DESIGNATED PRACTICE AREA 15 MILES NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT.
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: student
- Flight time: 17 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,557 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 1991; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bay Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PFN Panama City FL at 1:38 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 21,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:46 pm from PFN, 14 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.