Piper PA-28-180 accident near Everglades City, Florida, December 22, 1997
On December 22, 1997 at about 11:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9640J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Everglades City, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper fuel management and improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Related factors were: the light conditions at dusk, and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 1997 · about 11:47 pm local time
- Place
- Everglades City, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9640J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3864
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Postcrash interview with the pilot revealed he based his decision to not make an intermediate fuel stop on the fact that he had 14 gallons remaining when he did refuel at Naples Municipal Airport on a recent, identical trip. He rationalized that because heavy headwinds were encountered that first trip and he still had 14 gallons remaining when he landed for refueling, that this flight's fuel requirements would make a fuel stop unnecessary. He overflew Naples and nearby Everglades Airpark, then the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. Miami ARTCC gave the pilot immediate vectors for Everglades Airpark, but his glide was about 6 miles short, and he crashed into mangrove trees within Everglades National Park.
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: 530 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,970 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1997; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 15J Adel GA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: MTH Marathon FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:47 pm from APF, 36 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.
Other NTSB records under N9640J 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.