Tampa North Aero Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lutz, Florida 33549
Sunday, February 24, 2013 8:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On February 24, 2013, about 0830 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, N2895U, operated by a private individual, was destroyed when it collided with terrain, shortly after takeoff from Tampa North Aero Park (X39), Lutz, Florida. The private pilot was the sole occupant and was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight destined for Crossville Memorial Airport-Whitson Field (CSV), Crossville, Tennessee. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane was owned by the pilot and based at CSV. When the pilot did not arrive, family members alerted authorities and a search was initiated. The general location of the accident site was identified utilizing signal information from the pilot’s cellular telephone. With that information, a flight instructor and the airport owner from X39 conducted an aerial search of the area. Shortly after takeoff, one spotted smoke from a brush fire, and the other identified the site as an airplane accident. The accident site was identified on February 25, 2013, at about 1500. The accident site was located in the Cypress Creek Preserve, approximately 3 miles northwest of X39. The initial impact point (IIP) was identified as a tree with its top portion separated, with various components of wreckage extending from that point on a heading of about 070 degrees magnetic for 210 yards. The main portion of the airplane came to rest about 170 yards beyond the IIP. The engine came to rest about 40 yards beyond the main wreckage. A fire ensued along the entire wreckage path and several acres of scrub brush were burned along with a substantial portion of the airplane wreckage. Initial examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A weather observation reported at an airport located about 12 miles east of X39, about the time of the accident, included a visibility of 4 statute miles in mist, and a 400 foot overcast ceiling.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/24/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Lutz
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33549
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 281531N
Event Location Longitude 0822409W
Event Location Airport Tampa North Aero Park
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X39
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 68
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 815 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID ZPH
Elevation of weather observation facility 90
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 400
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) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KZPH 241315Z AUTO 22008KT 4SM BR OVC004 21/2
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) --
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 Mar 13 2013 1:36PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2895U
NTSB Number ERA13FA144
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7918207
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Cameron H. MacManus
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8789 Old Highway 28
Aircraft Owner City Pikeville
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37367-5029
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Cameron H. MacManus
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 8789 Old Highway 28
Operator City Pikeville
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37367-5029
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 X39
Departure City Lutz
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CSV
Destination City Crossville
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 13 2013 1:36PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --