Accident Piper J-3 N25863, Saturday 25 April 1987

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Saturday 25 April 1987
Time:	15:30 LT
Type:	Piper J-3
Owner/operator:	Paulkonsky
Registration:	N25863
MSN:	3825
Year of manufacture:	1939
Engine model:	Lycoming O-235
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Miami, FL - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE OWNERS RPRTD THE ACFT WAS STOLEN ON 4/25/87. THE NON-CERTIFICATED PLT RPRTD THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE ACFT WITHOUT PERMISSION. DRG FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER, & SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT MADE A FORCED LNDG IN THE EVERGLADES ABOUT 9 MI WEST OF THE TAMIAMI ARPT. HE STATED THAT THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO CONTAMINATED FUEL. DRG AN INVESTIGATION, APRX 1 QT OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL SYS. THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR OVER A YEAR & DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT AIRWORTHINESS OR REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE ABOARD. WHEN THE PLT WAS INTERVIEWED, HE APPEARED TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL; HOWEVER, HE HAD BEEN 'DRINKING' BETWEEN THE TIME OF THE ACDNT & THE INTERVIEW.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: