Commander Aircraft CO 114TC accident near Palm City, Florida, May 21, 2023

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.

Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them

Photograph 1 – Photo of left side of blue and white airplane fire damaged. (NTSB)Photograph 2 –Photo of vertical and horizontal stabilizer of blue and white airplane. (NTSB)Photograph 3 – Photo of right side of blue and white airplane fire damaged. (NTSB)Photograph 4 –Photo of engine and propeller impact damaged. (NTSB)Photograph 5 – Photo of fire damaged instrument panel. (NTSB)Photograph 6 – Photo of fire damaged fuselage. (NTSB)Photograph 7 – Photo of impact crater. (NTSB)

The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.

Other NTSB records under N6042E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time