Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lorida, Florida 33857
Monday, July 10, 1995 8:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SPOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT SUSPECT FROM THE AIR. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS DIRECTLY OVER THE SUSPECT IT ENTERED A STEEP BANK TO THE RIGHT. THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO REDUCE POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-ACCIDENT FAILURE NOR MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE HIS ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/1995
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 820
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LORIDA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33857
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 848 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID BOW
Elevation of weather observation facility 125
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1248
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 10 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 915
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5425V
NTSB Number MIA95GA178
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model L-21A
Aircraft Series Identifier L-21A
Aircraft Serial Number 18-877
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 17 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFF
Aircraft Owner Street Address 434 FERNLEAF AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City SEBRING
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33870
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SEB
Departure City SEBRING
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 22 2001 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --