Piper PA-18 accident near Ft Walton Beach, Florida, July 19, 1992
On July 19, 1992 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N3292Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft Walton Beach, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE WHILE TURNING ON FINAL APPROACH OVER WATER TO LAND AT AN AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1992 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ft Walton Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N3292Z · registry record · serial 18-7229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERICAL PILOT MADE A LOW LEVEL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY AND RELEASED A BANNER AFTER COMPLETING A BANNER TOW FLIGHT. AFTER THE PILOT RELEASED THE BANNER, HE INITIATED A CLIMB TO 300 FT AGL AND ENTERED LEFT TRAFFIC FOR RUNWAY 36. HOWEVER, DURING A TURN ONTO FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED, AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLIDED WITH WATER, WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS A A 15 TO 20 DEG BANK. THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST IN 3 TO 4 FT OF WATER ABOUT 200 YDS SOUTHWEST OF THE RUNWAY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 179 in the last 90 days; 96 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,756 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 1992; 168 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Boomer Aviation,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: IJ9 at 4:50 pm
- Destination: IJ9
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from VPS, 5 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.