Zephyrhills Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Zephyrhills, Florida 33540
Friday, October 23, 2009 20:17 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot fueled the airplane prior to departure and flew uneventfully for approximately 30 minutes. The airplane then descended to 2,000 feet on approach to the destination airport, during night visual meteorological conditions. About 30 seconds after being cleared for a visual approach, the pilot declared an emergency to air traffic control and requested assistance to the nearest airport. The controller provided a vector to divert and distance to the nearest suitable airport. The pilot subsequently reported "engine out, engine out" and the airplane impacted wooded terrain about 4 miles northeast of runway 22 at the alternate airport. A postcrash fire consumed a majority of the wreckage. Examination of the wreckage, including teardown examination of the engine, did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions; however, the fuel system and ignition system were consumed by postcrash fire and could not be tested.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during a night approach for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/23/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2017
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Zephyrhills
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33540
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 281623N
Event Location Longitude 0820614W
Event Location Airport Zephyrhills Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ZPH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 90
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2020 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID VDF
Elevation of weather observation facility 22
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.9
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26911
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 22 2010 2:06PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N98ZZ
NTSB Number ERA10FA028
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 46-350P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4636169
Certified Max Gross Weight 4300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
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 Dec 9 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1893
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Citrus Aviation Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lakeland
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33813
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Citrus Aviation Inc
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lakeland
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33813
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 GNV
Departure City Gainesville
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1943
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LAL
Destination City Lakeland
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 6 2010 11:17AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 4999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --