Commander 114TC N6042E

Summary

On 21 May 2023 at about 19:30 local time, a Commander 114TC registered N6042E was involved in an accident near Palm City, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 2023 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Palm City, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Naked Lady Ranch Airport (64FA)

Coordinates

27.1528, -80.3367

Aircraft

Commander 114TC

Registration

N6042E

Category

Airplane

Year built

2000

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23FA239

1 person died.

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot’s subsequent loss of control, which resulted in impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

An eyewitness observed the accident airplane flying at low altitude before the engine made an unusual noise and stopped producing power, after which the airplane entered a descending turn to the ground. The airplane was mostly consumed by a post-impact fire. The wreckage was located about 700 yards north of an airport runway, and it could not be determined if the airplane was departing or arriving at that airport when the accident occurred. Examination of the engine revealed normal compression, ignition, and fuel system function. Although the airplane’s fuel quantity at the time of the accident could not be determined due to fire damage, no blockages or anomalies were found with the remaining components of the fuel system. Examination of the wreckage confirmed flight control continuity and found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure. Toxicological results indicated that the pilot had used a cannabis product; however, without delta-9-THC or the psychoactive metabolite of delta-9-THC detected in blood, it is unlikely that the pilot was experiencing significant impairing acute psychoactive effects of cannabis at the time of the accident. Although the circumstances of the accident are consistent with a loss of engine power, the reason for the loss of power could not be determined, as postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction or anomaly. The descending turn before impact as described by the witness was consistent with an aerodynamic stall and loss of control, likely as a result of the pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed following the loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.