Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Everglades City, Florida 33929
Thursday, May 5, 1988 23:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT STATED WHEN THE FLT DEPARTED, THERE WAS 33 GALS OF FUEL ABOARD FOR THE X-C DAYLIGHT FLIGHT. FUEL BURN FOR THE ACFT WAS APPROX 8 GPH. THE FLT TO THE DEST REQUIRED ABOUT 1.5 HRS. THE PLT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO REFUEL AT HIS DESTINATION, BUT THE FBO WAS CLOSED FOR HIS NIGHT RETURN FLT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD HEADWINDS ON THE RETURN FLT & HAD TO FLY WELL EAST OF HIS INTENDED COURSE IN ORDER TO STAY OVER LIGHTED AREAS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A HORIZON. WHILE OVER THE EVERGLADES & DECLARING TO ATC THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL, HE WAS BEING RADAR VECTORED TO THE NEAREST ARPT WHEN THE ENG QUIT & A NIGHT FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED. A LDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON A DIRT ROAD, BUT THE ROAD CURVED AND THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT MAKE THE CURVE AND HIT A TREE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City EVERGLADES CITY
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33929
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 48 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID FMY
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 46
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 344
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 6 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 50
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36135
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N285DP
NTSB Number MIA88LA164
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 287725206
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 22 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 72
Airframe Hours 2641
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ORLANDO, JAMES R.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1645 NEW PORT CT.
Aircraft Owner City FORT MYERS
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33907
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ORLANDO, JAMES R.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1645 NEW PORT CT.
Operator City FORT MYERS
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33907
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code EYW
Departure City KEY WEST
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FMY
Destination City FORT MYERS
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --