Cessna 305 accident near Lantana, Florida, August 15, 1998
On August 15, 1998 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 305, registered N8WP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lantana, Florida (Palm Beach County Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel system that resulted in the loss of engine power due to water contamination. A factor was the rough terrain on the departure end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1998 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · Palm Beach County Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305 · all 305s on the register
- Registration
- N8WP · registry record · serial 23521
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot completed an extensive preflight inspection of the airplane that included draining both fuel sumps; there was no sediment or water found in the fuel. After the preflight inspection, the pilot taxied the airplane to the run-up area adjacent to runway 15. The pilot reported that the 'pre-departure run-up' was normal, and that the power application for the takeoff was also normal. As the airplane climbed through 400 feet, the pilot recalled that the engine hesitated and lost power. As the pilot attempted to restore full engine power, by adjusting the throttle, the engine backfired. The pilot elected to attempt a forced landing on the remaining runway. The airplane touched on the runway, and rolled off the departure end of runway 15 into a grassy area. The pilot reported that the airplane nosed over as it stopped in the rough grassy area. During the subsequent examination of the airplane, both fuel tanks were drained of remaining fuel. During this phase of the recovery and examination, several ounces of water were also recovered from the left fuel tank. Examination of the airframe and sub-systems failed to disclose a mechanical problem.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 625 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,145 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1998; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNA at 3:14 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,485 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PBI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.