Piper PA-32-301 accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, September 11, 1994
On September 11, 1994 at about 10:08 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N8056P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida (St. Lucie County Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND PREMATURE LIFT-OFF. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1994 · about 10:08 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Pierce, Florida · St. Lucie County Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8056P · no longer on the register · serial 32-8206017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH AN 11 KNOT RIGHT CROSSWIND. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TAIL HEAVY AND THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE TAIL DRAGGED AND BOUNCED ON THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT DURING TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO NORMAL LIFT OFF SPEED. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND TOUCHED DOWN IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE IN THE GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN COLLIDED WITH A DRAINAGE DITCH AND CAME TO REST ON A PARKING RAMP.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,163 hours in all; 129 in this make and model; 144 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 3,496 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,862 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 24, 1994; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MLB Melbourne FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 4,756 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:10 pm from FPR, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N8056P 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.