Piper PA-24-250 accident near Lakeland, FL
On April 12, 1996, a Piper PA-24-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lakeland, FL. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 12, 1996
- Place
- Lakeland, FL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 28.040°N, 81.900°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X05628
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 12, 1996, about 1854 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6243P, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on landing at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and a postcrash fire ensued. The private pilot, private pilot-rated passenger, and an additional passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed Lumberton, North Carolina, about 3 hours before the accident. Witnesses stated they observed the airplane on a tight downwind for runway 09 left. The airspeed seemed slower than other airplanes in the traffic pattern. The nose of the airplane was observed to pitch up and down while on the base leg. The airplane over shot the turn to final and started a turn to the left estimated between 35 to 45 degrees. The left wing dropped down 90 degrees as if in a stall, the nose pitched down, and the airplane collided with the terrain. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Review of the private pilot's logbook revealed the pilot had recorded as logged 37.4 total hours in the PA-24-250, of which 32.9 hours were dual instruction, and 4.5 hours were solo. An endorsement in the pilot's logbook indicates, "Dec 8, 1995 I certify that Mr. Clarence H. Ward, Jr. Has completed the check out requirements by Ranger Insurance Policy #GA70438 in a PA-24-250. J.Byrd 214022884 CFI 10/96." Further review of the pilot's logbook indicates on October 24, 1995, "see back high perf sign off this date." For additional first pilo
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (Vs) while turning on approach from base to final resulting in an inadvertent stall.
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Browse: Florida · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
