Piper PA-31T1 accident near Fort Lauderdale, FL

On April 12, 2015, a Piper PA-31T1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fort Lauderdale, FL. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

April 12, 2015

Place

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Aircraft

Piper PA-31T1 · Airplane

Injuries

4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

26.202°N, 80.177°W

NTSB ID

20150412X71847

Official records · ERA15FA181

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

Air traffic control records

• Excerpts - Air Traffic Control Accident Package: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 12, 2015, about 1625 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31T1, N119RL, collided with terrain on final approach to runway 13 at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The airplane was registered to a private company and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), Orlando, Florida, about 1520. According to information obtained from air traffic control, the pilot checked in with Miami approach control at 1618 and was advised to maintain 3,000 feet. The pilot was provided the most recent weather and runway information for FXE and he informed the controller that he would be executing a visual approach to runway 9. The controller then cleared the airplane to proceed direct to FXE with a descent to 2,000 feet. The pilot reported that he did not have FXE in sight, so the controller provided assistance and cleared the pilot to descend to 1,500 feet. At 1623, the pilot reported the field in sight and the controller cleared the pilot for the visual approach to runway 9 and handed him off to the FXE air traffic control tower. At 1623:49, the pilot checked in with FXE tower and was immediately cleared to land by the tower controller. At 1624:27, the pilot reported, "r

Probable cause

A rapid onset of smoke and/or fire inflight for reasons that could not be determined due to the postimpact fire and the condition of the wreckage.

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