Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

South Bay, Florida 33493
Tuesady, April 12, 2005 20:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Approximately one hour after takeoff, while in cruise flight at approximately 4,500 feet MSL, radar and radio communications with the pilot/aircraft were lost. The pilot was on the return leg of a round-robin flight that originated earlier that day. Radar information indicated the airplane started a descending right turn shortly before it disappeared from radar coverage. The airplane wreckage was later located near the general vicinity of the last radar return. Airman records indicated that the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate approximately three months prior to the accident. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating. The end of civil twilight was at approximately six minutes after the time of the accident. No evidence was found to indicate a pre-impact mechanical malfunction or irregularity with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while in cruise flight. Factors include night conditions and flat featureless terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/12/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2015
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City South Bay
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33493
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 263568N
Event Location Longitude 0804607W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID KPBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 16
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
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) 19275
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC Atlanta
NTSB Notification Date Apr 12 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Ft. Lauderdale, FL FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N448T
NTSB Number SEA05FA075
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Raytheon
Aircraft Model Bonanza
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number E-3602
Certified Max Gross Weight 3650
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 25
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Thomas Olzem
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lighthouse Point
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33064
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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 TPA
Departure City Tampa
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1919
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FXE
Destination City Fort Lauderdale
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 15 2005 6:45PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
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 --