Piper PA-20 accident near Hilliard, Florida, November 23, 1991
On November 23, 1991 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7304K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hilliard, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW CEILING ENCOUNTERED AND REDUCED IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION TIME BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 1991 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Hilliard, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7304K · no longer on the register · serial 20-213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE VFR ON TOP THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENG EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. AFTER BREAKING OUT OF THE CLOUDS THE PLT OBSERVED A FIELD & PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN HE INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE ACFT TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS AHEAD. THE ACFT WAS EXAMINED 2 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT BY AN FAA INSPECTOR. THE ACFT WAS SECURED & THE ENG WAS STARTED & FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,855 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 1991; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5A9 Warm Springs GA at 2:45 pm
- Destination: X47 Bunnell FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from JAX, 32 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.