Piper PA-23-250 accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, July 20, 2003
On July 20, 2003 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N5224Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida (Treasure Coast Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing roll resulting in collision with trees after the airplane departed the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2003 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Pierce, Florida · Treasure Coast Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5224Y · no longer on the register · serial 27-2272
- 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, after landing the airplane pulled to the left, he aborted the landing and set up for another landing. On the second landing, the pilot said he approached slower and touched down on the center of the runway. When he lowered the nose gear the airplane turned left, departed the runway and struck trees. The left wing tip sheared off and the right wing separated from the fuselage before the airplane came to a full stop. A witness stated to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident, he observed the airplane pitching up and down during two attempts to land and flying radically. The witness added he has known the pilot for many years and stated the pilot "does not fly that way." The pilot's 14-year-old grandson was seated in the front next to the pilot, while the other two passengers were seated in the center row of seats. The FAA inspector stated "no evidence of nose wheel failure was discovered".
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,315 hours in all; 1,503 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,169 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 2002; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming 0540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming 0540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFPR Fort Pierce FL at 5:15 pm
- Destination: KFPR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 090, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KFPR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.