Piper PA-28-140D accident near Pine Island, Florida, June 13, 1994
On June 13, 1994 at about 6:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140D, registered N888HA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pine Island, Florida (Morningstar South airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE DATA PERTINENT TO THE PRESENT CONDITIONS, HIS ATTEMPTED EXCESSIVE CLIMB RATE FOR CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE IN A CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THIS RESULTED IN THE INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH OF THE AIRCRAFT, UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, AND IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1994 · about 6:02 pm local time
- Place
- Pine Island, Florida · Morningstar South · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140D · all PA-28-140Ds on the register
- Registration
- N888HA · registry record · serial 28-7125440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS DEPARTING TO THE WEST ON A 2,100 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY. THE WINDS, AS REPORTED BY THE NEAREST WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION, WERE FROM THE EAST AT 6 KNOTS AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 95 F. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NEAR GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED NORMALLY, CLIMBED TO 100 FEET, AND THEN LOST LIFT AND CRASHED INTO THE TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. PERFORMANCE CHARTS CONTAINED IN THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT MANUAL INDICATED THE FLIGHT WOULD NEED 2,300 FEET TAKEOFF DISTANCE TO CLEAR A 50-FOOT OBSTACLE. THESE CHARTS DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE TAILWIND AND THE USE OF A GRASS RUNWAY WHICH WOULD INCREASE TAKEOFF DISTANCE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 523 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,604 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 19, 1994; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: VNC Venice FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 pm from FMY, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.