Amateur-built CX4 accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, April 24, 2023
On April 24, 2023 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CX4, registered N7555X, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near West Palm Beach, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2023 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- West Palm Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CX4 NO SERIES
- Registration
- N7555X · no longer on the register · serial 162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying the airplane on a cross-country flight, and reported that while approaching the destination airport the engine lost power during the final descent. The airplane subsequently collided with trees during a forced landing to a golf course. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the automotive conversion engine were noted during the postaccident examination. The examination also showed that the airplane’s fuel tank was intact and was void of fuel. Additionally, while the engine was separated from the firewall (thus compromising the integrity of the fuel system), there were no indications of fuel spillage around the airplane during the on-scene examination. While the pilot stated that he had fuel the airplane during a fuel stop near the mid-point of the planned route he did not provide any of the requested fueling records, and therefore the airplane’s fuel state prior to the flight leg could not be confirmed. Based on the available information, it is most likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel exhaustion due to the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Fuel exhaustion during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,577 hours in all; 326 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 2, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1915CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X35 Marion County FL
- Destination: LNA West Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 10:23 am from KPBI, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPBI 241423Z 14010KT 10SM TS SCT028CB SCT042 BKN055 28/21 A2998 RMK AO2 TSB22 OCNL LTGICCG N S TS N S MOV NE T02780206=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Correspondence | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7555X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.