Piper PA-28R-200 accident near New Hope, Florida, September 16, 1992
On September 16, 1992 at about 9:17 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N1083X, was destroyed in an accident near New Hope, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1992 · about 9:17 pm local time
- Place
- New Hope, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N1083X · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7535235
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT WAS BRIEFED BEFORE DEPARTURE THAT THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE ARPT. WHILE TALKING WITH APCH CONTROL, HE ADVISED THAT HE OBSERVED LIGHTNING AHEAD & ASKED IF THE FACILITY WAS SHOWING ANY WX AHEAD. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THAT THE FACILITY DID NOT HAVE WX RADAR BUT SUGGESTED A HEADING TO FLY, THEN ANOTHER. WHILE ON THE SECOND HEADING, THE PLT ADVISED THAT THE FLT WAS CLIMBING & DESCENDING. RADAR & RADIO CONTACT WAS THEN LOST. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE RT WING SEPARATED JUST OUTBOARD OF THE TIEDOWN RING DUE TO OVERSTRESS. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH WX RADAR. EXAM OF THE ENG & VACUUM PUMP REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR, DIRECTIONAL GYRO (DG), & TURN COORDINATOR WERE REMOVED FOR TESTING. THE LATTER TESTED SATISFACTORILY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR. THE DG WAS DISASSEMBLED WHICH REVEALED THAT A SCREW WHICH SECURED A WEIGHT ATTACHED TO THE ROTOR HOUSING ASSY WAS LOOSE.
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: 228 hours in all; 19 in the last 90 days; 135 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,611 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 1991; 290 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bay Air, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PFN Panama City FL at 9:00 pm
- Destination: BWG Bowling Green KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from PFN, 25 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.