North American T-28B accident near Wesley Chapel, FL
On June 3, 2004, a North American T-28B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Wesley Chapel, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 3, 2004
- Place
- Wesley Chapel, FL
- Aircraft
- North American T-28B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 28.229°N, 82.383°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040609X00769
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 3, 2004, about 1210 eastern daylight time, a North American T-28B, N261FM, registered to a private individual, collided with the ground shortly after takeoff from the Tampa North Aero Park, Wesley Chapel, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot was observed by a witness working on the throttle quadrant before departure to clear a previous discrepancy related to the friction device. The airplane was observed to depart from runway 32, and one witness reported that about 6 seconds after take off, "...something relatively small and rather dark fell from the plane." The witness and another individual made a comment about the separating object and noted the airplane was in an "...extreme" bank angle. The witness noted that the airplane was pitched nose down and lost sight of it behind obstructions; he estimated the flight duration was approximately 15 to 20 seconds. Another witness reported that approximately 2-3 seconds after becoming airborne, a "tarp of some kind, I think came out of the back seat." The witness further reported the airplane then went straight up and to the left. He also noted the empennage moved to the left and right very rapidly. He called 911, and the airplane went to the left before disappearing from his view behind obstructions. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to verify security of the left engine cowling and its subsequent separation in-flight and collision with the vertical stabilizer resulting in the loss of aircraft control.
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Browse: Florida · North American 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.
