Piper PA-46-310P accident near Miami Lakes, Florida, April 15, 1998
On April 15, 1998 at about 4:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered N46SX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami Lakes, Florida (Opa Locka airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to ensure the aircraft contained enough fuel to complete the flight resulting in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1998 · about 4:47 pm local time
- Place
- Miami Lakes, Florida · Opa Locka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N46SX · no longer on the register · serial 46-8608007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that as he descended below 800 feet on approach to land, the engine surged several times and quit. He immediately switched fuel tanks and turned the electric boost pump to the low position. The engine appeared to start momentarily and then quit. He turned the electric boost pump to high and the engine did not respond. He then ditched the aircraft in a lake. After ditching, the aircraft floated for about 10 minutes. Fuel consumption calculations showed the aircraft contained about 3 gallons of fuel at the time of engine failure. No fuel slicks were observed on the surface of the lake by police or recovery personnel. After recovery the aircraft was found to contain about 2.5 gallons of fuel. The engine was started and operated to full power.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 129 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,365 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1998; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-BE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRQ Sarasota FL at 3:52 pm
- Destination: OPF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12, 6,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from OPF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.