Cessna 401 accident near New Port Richey, Florida, April 23, 1992
On April 23, 1992 at about 8:06 pm local time, a Cessna 401, registered N3271Q, was destroyed in an accident near New Port Richey, Florida. It was a ferry 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-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VS) WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING AN IN FLIGHT LEFT ENGINE FIRE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADVERTENT SHUTDOWN OF THE WRONG ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1992 · about 8:06 pm local time
- Place
- New Port Richey, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401 · all 401s on the register
- Registration
- N3271Q · no longer on the register · serial 401-0071
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC DEPARTED ON A FERRY FLIGHT IN VFR CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FERRY PERMIT. WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 150 TO 500 FEET. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BEGAN A LEFT TURN WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. A FIRE WAS OBSERVED IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN A STEEP DESCENDING LEFT TURN BEFORE IT DISAPPEARED BELOW THE TREE LINE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Destination: GNV Gainesville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from TPA, 17 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.