Piper PA-23-160 accident near Lake Worth, FL

On January 22, 2004, a Piper PA-23-160 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lake Worth, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

January 22, 2004

Place

Lake Worth, FL

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-160 · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

26.591°N, 80.076°W

NTSB ID

20040203X00149

Official records · MIA04FA047

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Sound Spectrum Study ATC Tape: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

History of the Flight On January 22, 2004, about 1148 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-23-160, N4293P, crashed in a residential area while returning to land at West Palm Beach County Park Airport, Lantana, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the private-rated pilot and one passenger received fatal injuries. The flight originated from West Palm Beach County Park Airport, the same day, about 1137. After departure from West Palm Beach County Park Airport, the pilot of N4293P contacted the FAA, West Palm Beach International Airport Departure Control, and requested visual flight rules flight following for a flight to Everglades City, Florida. The pilot was given a transponder code. Shortly after this, the pilot reported to the controller that he needed to return to the West Palm Beach County Park Airport. The controller approved this and told the pilot that radio frequency change was approved. Shortly after this, the pilot transmitted on the Unicom frequency for the West Palm Beach County Park Airport, that he was 4 miles southwest of the airport, inbound for landing "on one engine". A flight instructor and dual student located in a Cessna 152 at the end of runway 27, who were awaiting takeoff, reported hearing the pilot of N4293P transmit on the Unicom frequency that he was 3 miles southwest of the airport, returning to the airport on one engine. They then heard the pilot report entering downwind for runway 27. They looked and observed the airplan

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate control of the aircraft by his use of an excessive bank angle, and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall and a loss of control following a loss of power in one engine. The reason for the loss of the engine power was not determined.

More accidents in FL

• Grumman G-73T, Dec 19, 2005
• Beech B90, Jan 5, 1994
• Beech B-90, Sep 3, 1999
• Cessna 182B, Feb 7, 1982
• Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12/47, Jun 7, 2012

Browse: Florida · Piper aircraft

See it on the map

Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.