Piper PA-31-325 accident near Lantana, Florida, June 24, 1994
On June 24, 1994 at about 1:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-325, registered N27872, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lantana, Florida (Palm Beach County Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO DRUGS, HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AFTER EXPERIENCING REDUCED TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO IMPROPER MAGNETO-TO-ENGINE TIMING, AND A PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL NOZZLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1994 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · Palm Beach County Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-325 · all PA-31-325s on the register
- Registration
- N27872 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7912031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ROTATE ABOUT 3,217 FT DOWN THE 3,746-FT RUNWAY. ONE OR BOTH ENGINES WERE HEARD RUNNING ROUGH. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 300 FT AGL, BANKED LEFT, PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE LEFT ENG OPERATED TO FULL RATED RPM AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE DAMAGED IGNITION HARNESS, ADJUSTMENT OF THE TURBOCHARGER DENSITY CONTROLLER, AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE MAGNETO-TO-ENG TIMING. THE RIGHT ENG ALSO OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE MAGNETO, IGNITION HARNESS, AND ENG-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP. THE DENSITY CONTROLLER REQUIRED ADJUSTMENT TO OBTAIN FULL RATED RPM. THE #3 CYL FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE WAS ALSO PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY CONTAMINANT. THE RIGHT ENG MAGNETO CONTACT ASSEMBLIES OPERATIONALLY CHECKED OK. THE CAPACITORS WERE HEAT DAMAGED. RIGHT ENG MAGNETO-TO-ENG TIMING AND INTERNAL TIMING OF THE MAGNETO WERE NOT DETERMINED. PILOT'S TOXICOLOGICAL RESULTS WERE POSITIVE FOR BUTALBITAL (1.768 UG/ML BLOOD, 0.553 UG/ML URINE), AND ALSO POSITIVE FOR ACETAMINOPHEN & SALICYLATE (ASPIRIN) IN URINE. BUTALBITAL IS A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION (BARBITURATE) NOT APPROVED FOR FLYING.
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: 1,000 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 193 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-F2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,496 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from PBI, 6 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.
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.