Commander Aircraft CO 114TC accident near Palm City, Florida, May 21, 2023
On May 21, 2023 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2000 Commander Aircraft CO 114TC, registered N6042E, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Palm City, Florida (Naked Lady Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot’s subsequent loss of control, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2023 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Palm City, Florida · Naked Lady Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Commander Aircraft CO 114TC NO SERIES, built 2000 · all 114TCs on the register
- Registration
- N6042E · registry record · serial 20030
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An eyewitness observed the accident airplane flying at low altitude before the engine made an unusual noise and stopped producing power, after which the airplane entered a descending turn to the ground. The airplane was mostly consumed by a post-impact fire. The wreckage was located about 700 yards north of an airport runway, and it could not be determined if the airplane was departing or arriving at that airport when the accident occurred. Examination of the engine revealed normal compression, ignition, and fuel system function. Although the airplane’s fuel quantity at the time of the accident could not be determined due to fire damage, no blockages or anomalies were found with the remaining components of the fuel system. Examination of the wreckage confirmed flight control continuity and found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure. Toxicological results indicated that the pilot had used a cannabis product; however, without delta-9-THC or the psychoactive metabolite of delta-9-THC detected in blood, it is unlikely that the pilot was experiencing significant impairing acute psychoactive effects of cannabis at the time of the accident. Although the circumstances of the accident are consistent with a loss of engine power, the reason for the loss of power could not be determined, as postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction or anomaly. The descending turn before impact as described by the witness was consistent with an aerodynamic stall and loss of control, likely as a result of the pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed following the loss of engine power.
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 engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,437 hours in all; 168 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,302 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 3,260 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AG1A (piston); 1,302 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from SUA, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSUA 211948Z 09012G16KT 10SM FEW030 30/22 A2993
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.
Other NTSB records under N6042E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23FA239.