Piper PA-31-B-310 accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, January 25, 1991
On January 25, 1991 at about 4:00 am local time, a Piper PA-31-B-310, registered N31HL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Bch Municipal airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DELAY BY THE PILOT TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH AND FAILURE TO CORRECT THE DESCENT BEFORE IMPACT WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 1991 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Bch Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-B-310 PA-31-B-31 · all PA-31-B-310s on the register
- Registration
- N31HL · no longer on the register · serial 31-7401214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS CONDUCTING A CIRCLE TO LAND APCH & STATED THAT WHEN THE FLT WAS ABOUT 3 MILES FROM THE ARPT, ENCOUNTERED RAIN & FOG. HE OBSERVED A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT OCCURRED & ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND WITH THE GEAR DOWN & FLAPS AT 10 DEGREES. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND 2.4 MILES FROM THE RWY & NOSED OVER IN A MARSH. THE PLT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ENG FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,072 hours in all; 1,371 in this make and model; 127 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 3,701 as pilot in command; 390 on instruments
- 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: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-A2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Island Aviation Services, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: JAX Jacksonville FL at 3:41 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 am from JAX, 13 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.