Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bradenton, Florida 34239
Thursday, June 4, 1998 12:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight was for the purpose of pipeline observation. Witnesses observed the aircraft climb at a steep angle with full engine power at the point pipeline personnel stated the observation of the pipeline would have been completed. The aircraft's wing and nosed then dropped and the aircraft descended and was lost from sight behind trees. The engine noise, which was still at full power, ceased suddenly followed by the sound of impact into a river. Post crash examination showed the aircraft collided with trees and then crashed into a river while descending in a nose down attitude at a slow speed. Post crash examination of the engine, airframe, and flight controls showed no evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction. Postmortem examination and toxicology testing of specimens from the pilot and two passengers showed no findings that could be considered causal to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed during climb after a low level observation flight resulting in the aircraft entering into a stall and descending uncontrolled until it crashed into trees and a river.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/4/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BRADENTON
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34239
Event Date Year 1998
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 1250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID SRQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 28
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 27
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1600
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 802
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 4 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1515
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9846H
NTSB Number MIA98FA177
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182R
Aircraft Series Identifier 182R
Aircraft Serial Number 18268066
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 4 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 72
Airframe Hours 7545
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRANSIT AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 6055
Aircraft Owner City LAKE CHARLES
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70606
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GIF
Departure City WINTER HAVEN
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 845
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 Climb
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 --