Amateur-built STILETO MK II accident near Cross City, Florida, April 12, 1992
On April 12, 1992 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built STILETO MK II, registered N3169Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cross City, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO A LOSS OF VISUAL REFERENCES. THE WEATHER WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1992 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cross City, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STILETO MK II STILETO MK
- Registration
- N3169Q · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS BRIEFED BEFORE DEPARTURE THAT MARGINAL VFR WX CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. DURING CRUISE FLT, THE FLT WAS VFR ON TOP OF A LAYER OF CLOUDS. THE PLT DESCENDED THROUGH A HOLE IN THE CLOUDS, AND WHILE MANEUVERING TO A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING THE FLT ENCOUNTERED FOG. THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT & CRASHED. THE AIRPLANE WAS LOCATED AT 1835, APRX 6 HRS 48 MIN AFTER THE FIRST ELT SIGNAL WAS RECEIVED.
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: 300 hours in all; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 85 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1992; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA81 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAL Lakeland FL at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from TLH, 80 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.
Other NTSB records under N3169Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.