Vans Aircraft RV-3 accident near Bell, Florida, September 26, 2005
On September 26, 2005, a Vans Aircraft RV-3, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N993FL, was destroyed in an accident near Bell, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain visual lookout during a VFR approach toward the runway resulting in-flight collision with trees. Factors in this accident are no lights for the grass strip runway and attempting to land in low natural light visibility conduction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2005
- Place
- Bell, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vans Aircraft RV-3, amateur-built
- Registration
- N993FL · no longer on the register · serial 488
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the runway was less visible than anticipated, partly due to the scattered clouds. He made several passes to identify the runway. It looked to him he had it made but veered off, possible looking at the altimeter, and hit the top of a tree. The airplane separated in several sections from the impact. The section he was in hung from the tree a few feet above the ground in an up-side down position. He released the seat belt restraints and ran for help to put out the fire as a result of the crash.
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: 747 hours in all; 565 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 714 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 575 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 66 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mazda 13B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CLW Clearwater FL at 11:05 pm
- Destination: 9FL5 Bell FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KCTY
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.