Piper PA 28-180 accident near Lake Worth, Florida, October 13, 2015
On October 13, 2015 at about 9:33 pm local time, a 1973 Piper PA 28-180, registered N57312, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Lake Worth, Florida (Palm Beach County Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2015 · about 9:33 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Worth, Florida · Palm Beach County Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-180, built 1973 · all PA 28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N57312 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7405042
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The pilot utilized the destination airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) to report that he was 3 miles east of the airport and that he planned to enter a midfield left downwind leg for the runway. He then reported on that he was turning a left base leg for the runway. No further communications were received from the pilot. A radar plot showed the airplane flying past the runway centerline and then making an S-turn before radar contact was lost. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's autopsy revealed that he had significant heart disease with enlargement and wall thickening. He also had diffuse coronary artery disease with 75 percent stenosis of the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries and 25 percent stenosis of the left main and left circumflex coronary arteries. There was also mild calcification of the mitral valve leaflets. The pilot's coronary artery disease put him at a high risk for acute ischemia, which can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or decreased blood pressure. He was also at increased risk for an arrhythmia, which can result in loss of consciousness. None of these events would leave visible evidence at autopsy. Given the circumstances of the accident and the pilot's cardiac conditions, it is possible that he became acutely impaired or incapacitated by symptoms from his cardiac disease and that this could have resulted in the loss of aircraft control. However, given the limited available information, it could not be determined whether the loss of control was the result of incapacitation or if there was another reason that the aircraft departed controlled flight and the pilot was unable to regain control.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Physical › Health/Fitness › Predisposing condition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,199 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ISM Kissimmee FL
- Destination: LNA Lantana FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,421 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PBI, 4 miles away
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.