Piper PA-28-161 accident near Okeechobee, Florida, June 28, 2013
On June 28, 2013 at about 12:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N614FT, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Okeechobee, Florida (Okeechobee County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2013 · about 12:37 pm local time
- Place
- Okeechobee, Florida · Okeechobee County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N614FT · no longer on the register · serial 2841237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In preparation for landing during a solo cross country flight, the pilot configured the airplane with full flaps and reduced engine power nearly to idle. On landing, the airplane touched down hard and bounced. After electing to perform a go-around, the pilot retracted one notch of flaps and added full power, but the airplane did not climb. While in flight the airplane turned left, departed the runway and continued through a fence until it impacted a palm tree, flipped over and came to rest resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded this operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 22, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 13, 2013; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pan Am Ab Initio Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL at 11:42 am
- Destination: OBE Okeechobee FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from OBE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.