Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 172 N64RF

3 August 1989 · Apalachicola, Florida, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 3 August 1989 at about 16:10 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N64RF, operated by Raffield, Danny L., was involved in an accident near Apalachicola, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 16:10
Classification
Accident
Location
Apalachicola, Florida, United States
Coordinates
29.7200, -84.9897
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Registration
N64RF
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Raffield, Danny L.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Aerial Observation
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Panama City → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
MIA89LA211

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION CONCERNING ALTITUDE ABOVE THE WATER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE RETURNING FROM A FISH SPOTTING TRIP AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 50 FT, THE ACFT SETTLED INTO THE WATER ABOUT 500 YDS FROM THE SHORE. DURING IMPACT, THE PLT'S SEAT BELT FAILED & HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE ACFT, WHICH SANK. HE STATED LATER THAT UNKNOWN TO HIM AT THE TIME, A MILITARY JET PASSED OVER THE AREA FROM EAST TO WEST, AT LOW ALT, ON A 90 DEG COURSE TO HIS FLT PATH. HOWEVER, HE ALSO STATED THAT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS TO HIM, THE ACFT SETTLED INTO THE WATER IN A STRAIGHT AHEAD & SLIGHTLY LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 172 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
17 Mar 1989 Cessna 172M
N80542
Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States - Fatal 2
21 Mar 1989 Cessna 172H
N1480F
Melbourne, Florida, United States - Serious injuries -
2 Jan 1989 Cessna 172
N4440L
Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
21 Nov 1989 Cessna 172
N63496
Bremerton, Washington, United States Flight Tech, Inc Minor injuries -
17 Aug 1989 Cessna 172P
N98584
Superior, Wisconsin, United States - Serious injuries -
4 Jan 1989 Cessna 172
N96319
Longmont, Colorado, United States Denver Air Center No injuries -

All 12,209 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
23 Mar 1989 Piper AEROSTAR 600
N77BR
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
no coordinates
Top Flight Air Service Fatal 1
25 Mar 1989 Bellanca 7KCAB
N90985
Daytona Bch Shr, Florida, United States
no coordinates
Aerial Messages, Inc. Fatal 1
8 Apr 1989 Beechcraft C-45H
N711BF
Tampa, Florida, United States - Serious injuries -
16 Apr 1989 Coutz QUICKIE Q-2
N13QT
Lake City, Florida, United States Rowe, Reardon L. Fatal 1
25 Apr 1989 Cessna 150M
N3004V
Miramar, Florida, United States Tursair, Inc. Serious injuries -
27 Apr 1989 Swearingen SA-226-AT
N39RD
Jacksonville, Florida, United States Corporate Airways No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States