Piper PA-23-250 accident near Lake Wales, FL
On September 11, 2004, a Piper PA-23-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lake Wales, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 11, 2004
- Place
- Lake Wales, FL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 27.900°N, 81.623°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040917X01447
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 11, 2004 at 0528 eastern daylight time a Piper PA-23-250, N962AB, registered to and operated by Vector Disease Control Inc., and flown by the commercial pilot collided with a 520-foot television tower in Lake Wales, Florida. The aerial application flight was operated under the Provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Night visual meteorological condition prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and pilot rated passenger received fatal injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Lake Wales Municipal Airport in Lake Wales, Florida, September 11, 2004, at 0415. According to the operator, the airplane was Mosquito Control Spraying under contract with the state of Florida. Witnesses in the area stated that they heard the airplane and could see its marker lights. One witness stated that at 0500 she went outside her home because it was hot and the power was out. She could hear the generator for the tower, but there were no obstruction lights illuminated. She heard the airplane's engines running and saw the airplane hit the tower and falling quickly. She stated the airplane sounded like a helicopter and after striking the tower the engine noise quite. She knew the airplane went into the orange groves and called for assistance. Another witness stated that he saw the airplane headed north then saw a ball of smoke and knew it hit the tower. He stated that he could only see the lights on the airplane but not the tower. He further stated that the airplane was low and the sound of the air
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and his inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a television tower.
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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.
