Piper PA-46-301P accident near Fort Myers, Florida, December 7, 1993
On December 7, 1993 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-301P, registered N4391C, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Myers, Florida (Morning Star airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE SOFT CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY SURFACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1993 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Myers, Florida · Morning Star · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-301P · all PA-46-301Ps on the register
- Registration
- N4391C · no longer on the register · serial 46-8508053
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF ON A 2,700 FOOT SOD RUNWAY AND HIT A SOFT SPOT WHICH DECREASED HIS GROUNDSPEED BY 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR. HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT AND STRUCK TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE FELL TO THE GROUND AND BURST INTO FLAMES.
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
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 3,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TIO-520-EB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,675 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from FMY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.