Navion Navion B accident near Sanford, Florida, March 29, 2024
On March 29, 2024 at about 4:50 pm local time, a 1951 Navion Navion B, registered N5429K, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Sanford, Florida (Orlando Sanford International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A sudden loss of all engine power during takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2024 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Orlando Sanford International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion Navion B, built 1951 · all Navion Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5429K · registry record · serial NAV-4-2329B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the preflight, engine start, taxi and initial takeoff were normal. Shortly after retracting the landing gear, while still over the runway, the engine lost all power. The airplane descended back to the runway, landed hard, and skidded to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower and aft fuselage. Postaccident examination of the fuel system and engine after recovery of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical failure or anomaly. There was an adequate supply of fuel on board. The reason for the sudden loss of engine power was not determined.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,230 hours in all; 183 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 2,134 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,385 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 2024; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 2,921 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 11,002 ft by 149 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KSFB, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSFB 291653Z 02005KT 10SM CLR 23/09 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP212 T02280089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 14, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Excerpt - Airframe Logbook | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpt - Engine Logbook | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Navion B Checklist | PDF, 2 pages | 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.