National Transportation Safety Board

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report

Location: Lake Worth, FL Accident Number: ERA18FA244

Date & Time: 09/09/2018, 1037 EDT Registration: N2707J
Aircraft: Cessna 335 Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On September 9, 2018, about 1037 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 335, N2707J, was destroyed
when it impacted terrain in John Prince Park, Lake Worth, Florida. The pilot and passenger
were fatally injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight
plan was filed for the flight that departed Key West International Airport (EYW), Key West,
Florida, about 0936. The flight was destined for Palm Beach County Airpark (LNA), Lake
Worth, Florida. The airplane was privately owned and operated the provisions of Title 14 Code
of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot had fueled the airplane on September 5 at LNA, with an order to top off the main
(wingtip) fuel tanks. He flew from LNA to EYW uneventfully on September 6.

Shortly before the accident, several witnesses reported that while the airplane was on approach
to runway 16 at LNA, while in the traffic pattern near the left base leg, it rolled back and forth,
became inverted, then descended to the ground in a spiral or spin.

The airplane impacted trees and terrain in a park about 1 mile north of LNA. The main
wreckage came to rest upright on a heading of about 030° magnetic. The airplane was partially
consumed by a post-crash fire. The wreckage path was also oriented along 030° and was about
40 feet in length. The impact area was surrounded by trees and the only damage to branches
were those directly above the main wreckage. A series of three ground scars consistent with
propeller strikes were located on an asphalt jogging trail along a heading of 030°, which were
in line and about 15 feet behind the right engine.

Examination of the wreckage revealed that all the major components of the airplane were
present at the accident site. The center and forward fuselage, as well as a large section of the
left wing outboard of the left engine, were significantly damaged by postimpact fire. The aft
fuselage was partially separated at the aft bulkhead, and the empennage was intact with only
minor damage to right horizontal stabilizer leading edge, near its root. The right wing was
buckled downward near the right engine, and the leading edge was consumed by fire outboard
of the right engine. The split-type flaps were partially extended. The landing gear actuator was
found in the full down/extended position. Flight control continuity was established from the
cockpit controls to the flight control surfaces. All control ends remained attached to their

Page 1 of 3 ERA18FA244
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
attach points except for the aileron yoke interconnect chain, which was found off the sprockets
consistent with impact forces.

All five fuel caps were intact and secure. The main wingtip fuel tanks were separated from the
wing, with no damage to the attach fitting baffle. Both wing auxiliary fuel tanks were
significantly fire damaged and partially consumed. The left wing locker fuel tank was intact and
about 15 gallons of fuel were recovered from it. The left fuel selector valve remained attached to
the wing and was confirmed via an air test, to be in the main tank position. The right fuel
selector valve remained attached to the control rod only and appeared to be in the main tank
position, but could not be confirmed with an air test. Both of the remotely located cockpit fuel
selector handles were found in the auxiliary tank position.

Both mixture controls were found near the cutoff position. The right propeller lever was near
the low pitch position. The left propeller lever was near mid travel. The right throttle was near
the full forward position. The left throttle was near mid travel. All throttle quadrant control
levers were folded over and bent towards the left.

The right engine remained attached to the wing. The propeller remained attached to the
engine. All three propeller blades were bent and twisted aft, with chordwise scratches and
leading-edge gouges. The left engine remained attached to the left with its cowling intact. The
propeller was separated at the propeller flange. Two blades remained attached to the propeller
hub, one of which was largely undamaged. The second blade was bent slightly, approximately 8
inches from the root, and again about 24 inches from the root, with a slight twist. The third
blade
was separated from the hub and was largely undamaged.

A review of airplane maintenance logbooks revealed that the most recent annual inspection
was performed on July 23, 2018, at an aircraft total time of 3,242 hours. The total time on the
airplane at the time of the accident could not be determined. Both engines were 300
horsepower turbo-normalized six-cylinder engines driving three bladed propellers. At the time
of the most recent annual inspection, both engines had accrued 1,809 hours since overhaul.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the 70-year-old pilot did
not possess a valid medical or airman certificate. He had previously held a private pilot
certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multiengine land. His most recent medical
certificate was issued on June 30, 2014. According to his logbook, he had accumulated 1,779
hours of total flight experience, of which 157 hours were in the same make and model as the
accident airplane.

At 1055, the reported weather at LNA included wind from 280° at 5 knots, with scattered
clouds at 2,400 feet above ground level.

An electronic primary flight display and engine monitor, both of which have the capability to
record flight data, were forwarded to the NTSB laboratory for examination.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

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This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna Registration: N2707J
Model/Series: 335 No Series Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file Operating Certificate(s) None
Held:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LNA, 14 ft msl Observation Time: 1055 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 24°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2400 ft agl Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 280°
Lowest Ceiling: Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Key West, FL (EYW) Destination: Lake Worth, FL (LNA)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal Latitude, Longitude: 26.608889, -80.083333
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Douglass P Brazy
Additional Participating Persons: Anthony Saavedra; FAA/FSDO; Miramar, FL
Mike Council; Continental Motors; Mobile, AL
Andrew Hall; Textron; Wichita, KS
Note: The NTSB traveled to the scene of this accident.

Page 3 of 3 ERA18FA244
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.