Piper PA-31-350 accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, September 17, 1993
On September 17, 1993 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N456CB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Bch. Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, HIS FAILURE TO TOUCH DOWN AT THE PROPER POINT ON THE RUNWAY, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1993 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Bch. Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N456CB · registry record · serial 31-8152130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THE FLIGHT APPROACHED AT ABOUT 120 KNOTS AND TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 3,000 FEET DOWN THE 4,300-FOOT RUNWAY. THE PILOT THEN ABORTED THE LANDING. ON THE SECOND LANDING THE FLIGHT AGAIN APPROACHED AT ABOUT 120 KNOTS AND TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 3,000 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO STOP BUT WAS UNABLE TO. THE AIRCRAFT OVERAN THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH WHERE IT FLIPPED OVER INVERTED AND CAME TO REST. THE PILOT REPORTED TO FAA INSPECTORS THAT HE HAD NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAC Macon GA at 12:15 pm
- Destination: 55J
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 8, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from NRB, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.