Amateur-built Buccaneer accident near Labelle, Florida, April 4, 2004
On April 4, 2004 at about 1:52 pm local time, a amateur-built Buccaneer, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Labelle, Florida (Sundance Farms Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots improper preflight preparation resulting in loss of engine power due to contaminated fuel and his failure to maintain airspeed while attempting to reverse direction to land resulting in an inadvert stall, uncontrolled descent, and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2004 · about 1:52 pm local time
- Place
- Labelle, Florida · Sundance Farms Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Buccaneer
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial Unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness stated that he heard the engine cease operating and saw a turn being initiated to reverse course and land on the runway. According to the witness, the nose of the aircraft lowered, and the sink rate increased as the turn was tightened to turn back to the runway. An FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic who examined the engine stated that he found fuel in the airplane which had aged and had a "gel-like" consistency. In addition, he said he one of the pistons had become seized, and there was evidence that detonation had occurred.
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
- Flight time: 1,992 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FD20 Labelle FL at 1:50 pm
- Destination: FD20
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from FMY, 22 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG 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.