Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309
Saturday, June 21, 1997 8:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses heard the aircraft's engine 'shutting on and off' and 'sputtering' as the aircraft climbed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was at a lower than normal altitude and appeared to be at a slow speed. The student pilot made a steep turn to the left, and witnesses stated he appeared to be trying to return to the airport. Subsequently, the aircraft collided with power lines as it was flying low over a roadway, then it impacted a tree and came to rest in the roadway. Postcrash examination of the engine, aircraft structure, and flight controls showed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. The aircraft had been refueled prior to the flight, and uncontaminated fuel was found in the engine fuel system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s), and failure of the student pilot to remain clear of obstructions, while attempting to make a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/21/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 835
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FORT LAUDERDALE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33309
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 854 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID FLL
Elevation of weather observation facility 14
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 881
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 21 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 910
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1821B
NTSB Number MIA97FA188
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 77
Aircraft Series Identifier 77
Aircraft Serial Number WA-291
Certified Max Gross Weight 1675
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 Sep 6 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 66
Airframe Hours 8141
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AEROJET, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5098 NW 37TH AVE., STE B
Aircraft Owner City TAMARAC
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33309
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FXE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 834
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PHK
Destination City PAHOKEE
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --