Beech F33 accident near Land O Lakes, Florida, May 12, 2020
On May 12, 2020 at about 3:26 pm local time, a 1973 Beech F33, registered N711JA, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Land O Lakes, Florida (Tampa North Aero 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
The partial loss of engine power due to a contaminated fuel system and the pilot’s improper decision to attempt a takeoff with a known deficiency in engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2020 · about 3:26 pm local time
- Place
- Land O Lakes, Florida · Tampa North Aero Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33 A, built 1973 · all F33s on the register
- Registration
- N711JA · no longer on the register · serial CE-478
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Twice before the accident takeoff, the pilot performed an engine run-up successfully; however, when he advanced the engine to full power, the engine ran rough, and the pilot elected not to attempt the takeoffs. During a third attempt, the engine ran rough again, but the pilot continued the takeoff. The airplane travelled more than half the distance of the 3,541-ft-long runway before it lifted off, barely cleared trees at the end of the runway, and made a left turn. A witness radioed the pilot and advised that he had a rough running engine; the pilot acknowledged the rough running engine and stated that he was returning to the airport. He subsequently stated that he was going down. The airplane came to rest upright in the back yard of a vacant residence about 1/2 mile from the departure end of the runway. A postcrash fire consumed most of the cockpit, cabin, and right wing. The left wing had separated during the impact and was also located in the back yard of the residence. Subsequent examination of the wreckage revealed corrosion and loose material associated with corrosion inside the fuel manifold. The fuel lines leading to the fuel manifold had partially melted during the postcrash fire, preventing any water from entering the fuel manifold after the accident. The corrosion and material likely resulted in a partial power loss at high power settings (increased fuel demand). Toxicological testing revealed the pilot had been taking two disqualifying and potentially impairing medications used to treat depression. Due to limited information on the status of the pilot’s depression or symptoms from his use of these medications, whether his medical condition or use of medications contributed to the accident could not be determined from the available information.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fuel contamination during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,342 hours in all; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 3, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,818 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 1,786 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Logical Choice Aviation N711Ja Inc
The flight
- Departed from: X39 Land O Lakes FL at 3:26 pm
- Destination: CLW Clearwater FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,541 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from ZPH, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
15 documents, released by the NTSB on February 2, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statements | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Fuel Log | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts from Pilot Logbook | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from Maintenance Records | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Google Map Depicting Accident Area | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Air Traffic Control Specialist Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Air Traffic Control - Attachment 1 - FAA radar Data | PPB file | Download |
| 8 | Air Traffic Control Attachment 2 - ADS-B Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 9 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Continental Engine Examination Report | PDF, 32 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Medical Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Sound Spectrum Study | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 14 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 15 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.