Cessna 172P accident near Lantana, Florida, April 27, 2003
On April 27, 2003 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N51898, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lantana, Florida (Palm Beach County Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's use of excessive airspeed and the improper touchdown point during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway, and impacting with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2003 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · Palm Beach County Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N51898 · no longer on the register · serial 17274376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, on the third attempted landing his speed was too fast, and his altitude was too high. He flared and touched down about 1/2 to 2/3 down the runway, too late for a go-around, and still moving fast. He said that he was "unable" to control the airplane's direction, overran the runway, at the departure end, and impacted with trees. An examination of the airplane after the accident did not reveal any discrepancies.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 470 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days; 460 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 9, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,382 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 15, 2003; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNA West Palm Beach FL at 12:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 3,256 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KPBI, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.