Amateur-built LOGANAIR I accident near Gainesville, Florida, September 21, 1991
On September 21, 1991 at about 9:45 am local time, a amateur-built LOGANAIR I, registered N931JL, was destroyed in an accident near Gainesville, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT IN COMMAND'S DECISION TO DEPART UNDER SPECIAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULE CLEARANCE IN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES CONDITIONS DURING DARKNESS WITH A FAILED VACUUM PUMP AND RESULTING INOPERATIVE FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1991 · about 9:45 am local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LOGANAIR I
- Registration
- N931JL · no longer on the register · serial JL3054
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE VACUUM PUMP FAILED AND NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT ACCEPTED AN IFR CLEARANCE TO LAND AT GAINESVILLE. DURING THE APPROACH THE PILOT DESCENDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALTITUDE AND CONFLICTED WITH OTHER TRAFFIC. AFTER LANDING THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE THE VACUUM PUMP REPAIRED. THE NEXT MORNING THE PILOT CALLED FSS AND REQUEST A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO DEPART GAINESVILLE WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK AND IFR CONDITIONS. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE THE FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND PITCH UP AND ENTER CLOUDS. THE FLIGHT THEN DESCENDED FROM THE CLOUDS AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: 6,000 hours in all; 165 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 165 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 1990; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: 1X4 Boynton Beach FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 am from GNV, 10 miles away
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.