# NTSB MIA87FA041: Cessna 320, N1FD, Panama City, FL, December 2, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 1986, 19:24 local (Dec 2, 1986, 01:24 UTC)
- Place: Panama City, FL
- Coordinates: 30.200439, -85.789009 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2004&lon=-85.7890&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31738
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31738/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA041

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - fuel system,fuel control - loose (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

WHILE EXECUTING AN ILS APPROACH WITH AIRCRAFT RADIOS THAT WERE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND USING A HAND HELD TRANSCEIVER, THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A BROKEN FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WIRE, AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT IN IMC CONDITIONS AND CRASHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1FD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1FD-1989-08-25), registration cancelled 1989-08-25, S/N 3200006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320
- Registry model: [Cessna 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320) (registry code 2074502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 320-006
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-470-B 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charlie Fowler/Evangelistic As
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1986, 167 hours before
- Departed: PNS, PENSACOLA, FL
- Destination: PFN, PANAMA CITY, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PFN, Panama City, runway 14, 6,314 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,006 total, 186 in this make and model, 2,900 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PFN, 6 nm away

## 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 19861201087049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861201087049A), Dec 1, 1986: Cessna 320, Panama City, FL, Destroyed. Power loss on right engine. Lost control on approach, struck trees. Improper repair to fuel sensor, marginal radios

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.