Piper PA-28R-180 accident near New Port Richey, Florida, March 29, 1991
On March 29, 1991 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7454J, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Port Richey, Florida (Tampa Bay Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUSTS WHILE FLARING TO LAND AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND FAILURE TO PERFORM A GOAROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1991 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- New Port Richey, Florida · Tampa Bay Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7454J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30804
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON APCH TO LAND ON RWY 26 WITH A WIND FROM THE SOUTH AT 12 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 19, THE ACFT WAS BLOWN OFF THE RWY INTO TREES ALONG THE RT SIDE OF THE RWY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 705 hours in all; 325 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 525 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SSI Brunswick GA at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,000 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.