Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Wimauma, Florida, June 13, 1999
On June 13, 1999 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7485J, was involved in an accident near Wimauma, Florida (Wimauma airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a passenger deplaning the airplane while the engine was running struck the propeller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1999 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Wimauma, Florida · Wimauma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7485J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30844
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine was still running when one passenger exited the airplane and went aft on the wing. A second passenger exited the airplane, went forward on the wing, and struck the propeller.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 275 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-36-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FPO Freeport OF
- Destination: FD77
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from MCF, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.