Highcraft BUCCANEER II accident near Rockledge, Florida, December 16, 1992
On December 16, 1992 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Highcraft BUCCANEER II, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockledge, Florida (Rockledge Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP ON TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 1992 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rockledge, Florida · Rockledge Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Highcraft BUCCANEER II BUCCANEER
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A PILOT RATED PASSENGER WERE FLYING AN UNREGISTERED AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE. ON TAKEOFF THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT AND PILOT RATED PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582LCDC DI (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Keuthen Aircraft
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from MBL, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 UNREG 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.