Piper PA-32-260 accident near Sebastian, Florida, April 7, 2023
On April 7, 2023 at about 6:43 pm local time, a 1974 Piper PA-32-260, registered N44588, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Sebastian, Florida (Sebastian Muni 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 pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2023 · about 6:43 pm local time
- Place
- Sebastian, Florida · Sebastian Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260, built 1974 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N44588 · registry record · serial 32-7400050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the end of the local flight, the pilot completed a straight-in approach to his home airport for landing. Witnesses reported that the airplane appeared slower than normal during the landing approach and that the wings were wobbling. The airplane touched down on its nose landing gear and bounced back into the air as the pilot simultaneously increased engine power. The left wing dropped and the airplane descended off the side of the runway, impacted terrain, and cartwheeled before coming to rest. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation. The witness statements, debris path, and impact signatures were consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during while attempting to recover from the bounced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 606 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,309 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2022; 60.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L4B5 (piston); 1,250 hours total
- Operator: N44588 LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,199 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from VRB, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KVRB 071853Z 12010KT 10SM CLR 29/19 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP202 T02890189=
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 June 5, 2024. 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.
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.