Piper PA-28-181 accident near Dunedin, Florida, July 17, 1999
On July 17, 1999 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N3030Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dunedin, 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 inadequate fuel management which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1999 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dunedin, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N3030Q · registry record · serial 28-7990299
- 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 upon descending through about 2,000 feet the engine lost power, and while making a forced landing in a parking lot the aircraft collided with trees. The pilot further stated that he ran out of fuel. The FAA inspector who conducted a postcrash examination of the airplane stated that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks or fuel lines.
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: 110 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,950 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 12, 1999; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming PA-28-181 ARC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X60 Williston FL
- Destination: PIE St. Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 17 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PIE, 5 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.
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.