Piper PA-28-181 N8603E

Summary

On 31 October 2000 at about 19:06 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N8603E was involved in an accident near Zolfo Springs, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 October 2000 at 19:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Zolfo Springs, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.4597, -81.8128

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N8603E

Category

Airplane

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bartow → Wauchula

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01FA021

1 person died.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the pilot executing a forced landing to an open field, and the aircraft subsequently impacting a tree during the landing rollout.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to a controller at Bartow Municipal Airport's Air Traffic Control Tower, the pilot had been in radio communications contact with the tower, and at 1404, he made a transmission stating, "Bartow Tower N8603E, 26 south my engine quit and I can see Wauchula Airport but I can't make it." According to the controller, the pilot further indicated that he was going to attempt a forced landing in an open field. The controller stated that he then declared an emergency for the pilot of N8603E, notifying Hardee County Emergency Services. At 1536,deputies with the Hardee County Sheriff's Office discovered the accident aircraft at the southern edge of the pasture, with about 0.5 miles of open, flat pasture behind the apparent touchdown point. The aircraft had incurred substantial damage, and pilot was fatally injured. There were no witnesses to the accident. During the landing rollout, the aircraft had impacted a tree with the left wing, and had continued on, impacting another tree at the propeller's spinner. After recovery from the pasture, the airframe, flight controls, and engine were given detailed examinations, and the engine was operated. No anomalies were found with the accident aircraft's airframe, flight controls, or engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.