American General AA-5B N81189

Summary

On 1 September 2002 at about 10:35 local time, a American General AA-5B registered N81189, operated by James Rex, was involved in an accident near Zephyrhills, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 September 2002 at 10:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Zephyrhills, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Zephyrhills Muni (ZPH)

Coordinates

28.2281, -82.1558

Aircraft

American General AA-5B

Registration

N81189

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James Rex

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Zephyrhills → Zephyrhills

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL02FA162

2 people died.

The pilots continued visual flight into instrument conditions (fog), and subsequent collision with a tree and a residence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses near the accident site reported they heard an airplane flying low over the neighborhood prior to the approximate time of the accident. Shortly after hearing the low flying airplane, an explosion was heard. Witnesses discovered a nearby home engulfed in flames, and confirmed that a small airplane had collided with the home. Witnesses reported the weather conditions were foggy and very dark at the time of the accident. Lakeland Regional Airport, located 16 nautical miles southeast of Zephyrhills Airport, 0650 weather observation, reported winds calm, sky conditions scattered at 200 feet above ground level (AGL), visibility 1 statue mile, mist, temperature 25 celsius, dewpoint 25 celsius, and the altimeter setting was 30.02. The Vandenberg Airport, weather observation located 16 nautical miles southwest of Zephyrhills Airport, reported at 0552, winds 050 degrees and 5 knots, overcast sky at 500 feet AGL, visibility 1.5 statue miles, with mist, temperature 25 Celsius, and dewpoint 25 Celsius. There was no record of the pilot receiving a weather briefing before departure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.