Beech 33-F33A accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, November 28, 1998
On November 28, 1998 at about 4:38 pm local time, a Beech 33-F33A, registered N69FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Beach Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Pilot's failure to maintain flying airspeed that resulted in a loss of control and an inadvertent stall. Factors were several electrical system component malfunction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1998 · about 4:38 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Beach Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 33-F33A
- Registration
- N69FL · registry record · serial CE-1670
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the flight departed the pilot attempted to use the radios, but discovered that there was a loss of electrical power. Air Traffic Controller, observed the airplane as it circled near the airport. The pilot used a walkie-talkie and established radio contact with a man who was knowledgeable of the airplane. With the assistance of the ground person the pilot hand-cranked the landing gear down. The pilot made a low pass over the airport for a visual gear inspection. According to a witness at the airport, it appeared that the landing gear was extended. He continued to observe the airplane as the pilot executed a tight left turn. The airplane disappeared below the trees on the upwind side of runway 08. The airplane collided with a tree and the ground in a residential area.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 90 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 971 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 17, 1997; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO 520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRG Jacksonville FL at 4:02 pm
- Destination: BQK Brunswick GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 5,350 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from JAX, 23 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.