Piper PA-28-161 accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida, February 10, 1992
On February 10, 1992 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N20974, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida (New Smyrna Bch Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND RESULTING IN THE IN FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH FOG DURING THE DOWNDWIND LEG SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF TO REMAIN IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1992 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch, Florida · New Smyrna Bch Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N20974 · registry record · serial 28-7916021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE FLT ENCOUNTERED FOG. THE PLT CONTINUED THE APCH & WHILE ON FINAL AT AN ALTITUDE OF 400 FT, THE RWY ENVIRONMENT BECAME VISIBLE. THE PLT REALIZED THAT HE WAS HIGH BUT CONTINUED THE APCH & LANDED APRX 3/4 DOWN THE RWY. THE ACFT TRAVELLED OFF THE END, COLLIDED WITH SHRUBS, THEN CAME TO REST.
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: 106 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 1992; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Acs, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,300 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from DAB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.