Leesburg Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Leesburg, Florida 34749
Monday, January 10, 2005 23:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses stated that they heard an airplane on final approach to the airport in poor visibility around 2330 pm. There was no unusual noise or observations before the airplane's engine went silent after the sound of an impact; no fire or explosion was seen at that time due to the fog. A visual search by the Lake County Sheriff's office of the area where the airplane may be located was conducted; however, the fog and nighttime hindered the search operation. The sheriff's aviation department could not assist in the search until the weather cleared in the morning. At 0245 a representative of the Civil Air Patrol advised the sheriff's department that an emergency locator transmitter signal was received in the area previously searched. At 0410, the airplane was located in a swamp along the flight path to the airport. The weather at the airport at about the time of the accident was winds 070 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 1 3/4 statue miles with mist, clouds overcast at 200 feet. The temperature was 17 degrees Celsius and dew point was 17 degrees Celsius. The barometric pressure was 30.24. The airplane came to rest in an upright position in the swamp terrain. Near to the wreckage a couple of trees were observed with impact damage. The damage incurred by the airplane and the surrounding vegetation was indicative of a nose low, left wing down attitude during a vertical descent at the time of impact. The left and right flaps settings by flap mechanism measurement were consisted with a 25 degrees flap down position. The measurement on the pitch trim drum was consistent with a 3 degrees tab deflection in a nose up attitude. No pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions of the aircraft structure, flight control systems, or engine were noted during the examination. At the time of the accident the pilot was not in contact with any ATC Facilities and no flight plan was filed. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to continue VMC flight into IMC conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/10/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2330
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Leesburg
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34749
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 285015N
Event Location Longitude 0814932W
Event Location Airport Leesburg Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LEE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 77
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID KLEE
Elevation of weather observation facility 44
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.75
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.23
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 20370
NTSB Notification Source FAA Atlanta Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jan 11 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 445
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 3 2006 2:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando FSDO-17

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1266T
NTSB Number MIA05FA045
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7225412
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 119
Airframe Hours 12895
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lawrence J. Cobia
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10633 Summit Square Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Leesburg
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34788
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name John Porter McGaughy
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4322 Lake Erie Rd
Operator City Groveland
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 34736
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KOCF
Departure City Ocala
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2305
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KLEE
Destination City Leeburg
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 18 2006 3:19PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --