# NTSB MIA81DKJ16: Piper PA-24, N8966P, Panama City, FL, August 24, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 24, 1981
- Place: Panama City, FL · PANAMA CITY, FL
- Location: 30.1588° N, 85.6602° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Panama City, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1588&lon=-85.6602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124497
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA81DKJ16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81DKJ16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2154  81/8/24    PANAMA CITY,FL      PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 507
        TIME - 1030                    N8966P              PX-  0  0  1  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 9 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANFORD,FL                  PENSACOLA,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MISCALCULATED FUEL CONSUMPTION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8966P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8966P), registered now, S/N 24-4423, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810824051469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810824051469A), Aug 24, 1981: Piper PA24260, Panama City, FL, Substantial damage. Departed without topping fuel tanks. Ran out of fuel short of destination on IFR vectors in clouds. Ditched in gulf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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