Piper PA-32-301 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, January 23, 1992
On January 23, 1992 at about 5:01 am local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N8300X, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND WAS NOT LOCATED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1992 · about 5:01 am local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8300X · no longer on the register · serial 32-8106030
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED ON A VFR FLIGHT FROM FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, TO STELLA MARIS, BAHAMAS. A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED BUT NOT ACTIVATED. VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED BY MIAMI FLIGHT SERVICE STATION DUE TO WEATHER. THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT WHEN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS PERMITTED VFR FLIGHT. THE PILOT DECLINED FLIGHT FOLLOWING IN THE OUTER ARSA, AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS TRANSPONDER WAS NOT BEING PICKED UP ON CLIMB OUT. RADAR SERVICE WAS TERMINATED SIX MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. THERE WERE NO OTHER KNOWN RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PILOT. A BODY WAS LOCATED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TWO DAYS LATER BY A FISHING BOAT. THE COAST GUARD WAS DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE AND TWO OTHER BODIES, TWO BLUE TOTE BAGS, A WALLET, AND A LIGHT BROWN AIRPLANE SEAT CUSHION WAS LOCATED IN THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE FIRST BODY. ALL REMAINS WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER. AIRCRAFT DELIVERY DOCUMENTS INDICATE BUCKSKIN SEATS WERE INSTALLED.
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: 865 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: FLL Fort Lauderdale FL at 7:48 pm
- Destination: MYLS Stella Maris OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from FLL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.