Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Apopka, Florida 32712
Tuesady, August 16, 2005 21:43 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Local residents saw the airplane flying above the tree tops and believed that it was attempting a landing on the nearby golf course. As the flight continued, the airplane collided with power lines, the ground, and burst into flames near the 9th hole. Examination of the wreckage disclosed that the wing flaps were set at 10-degrees and the landing gear were retracted. Review of Air Traffic Transcripts revealed that the pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight. The post-accident examination of the airplane also failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout and object clearance, which resulted in the in-flight collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/16/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2143
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Apopka
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32712
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 284251N
Event Location Longitude 0812759W
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 2153 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID ORL
Elevation of weather observation facility 113
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
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) 19106
NTSB Notification Source FAA Com Center
NTSB Notification Date Aug 16 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
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 Orlando FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2631E
NTSB Number ATL05FA145
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 310R1618
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18.8
Airframe Hours 3872.8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Joseph Norman Welsh
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1849 Daniels Street
Aircraft Owner City kissimmee
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34736
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 CLT
Departure City Charlotte
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ISM
Destination City Kissimmee
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2005 1:24PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
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 --