Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Islamorada, Florida
Monday, July 11, 1983 6:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE FLORIDA BAY AFTER THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ENG STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND HE DITCHED THE ACFT AT ABOUT 0600 EDT. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CLOCK WAS STOPPED AT 0345 AND A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN SAID HE SAW A LOW FLYING ACFT AT ABOUT 0400 HOURS GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CRASH WITH NO LIGHTS ON. THE ACFT WAS FOUND IN ABOUT 4 FT OF WATER IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN ABOUT 200 YARDS WEST OF THE CALUSA KEY. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN UNAPPROVED CABIN FUEL TANK TRANSFER HOSE PLUMBED TO THE ACFT'S LEFT FUEL TANK. TWO OF THE ACFT SEATS HAD BEEN REMOVED. THE ACFT OWNERS ADDRESS ON THE REGISTRATION BELONGS TO A BUSINESS THAT RENTS MAIL BOXES TO PEOPLE WHO WISH TO REMAIN UNKNOWN. THE PLT SAID HE DID NOT KNOW THE PASSENGER; THE PASSENGER SAID HE HAD JUST MET THE PILOT. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1983
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ISLAMORADA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 600 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID TMB
Elevation of weather observation facility 10
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2530
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22843
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6207J
NTSB Number MIA83FA180
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32R-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-7680318
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TOM P. SCULLY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12555 BISCAYNE BLVD , APT 152
Aircraft Owner City MIAMI
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33181
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GEOFFREY M. FICKLING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 15000 S.W. 179 ST.
Operator City MIAMI
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33127
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 TMB
Departure City MIAMI
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MTH
Destination City MARATHON
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 10:36AM
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 --