Cessna P337H accident near Port St. Lucie, Florida, October 19, 2005
On October 19, 2005 at about 6:57 pm local time, a Cessna P337H, registered N5HU, was destroyed in an accident near Port St. Lucie, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued flight into an area of known convective weather, resulting in a loss of aircraft control. Contributing factors were the failure of the FAA center controller to provide information on depicted severe weather to the pilot and the controller's delay in providing requested navigational assistance until it was too late to provide the pilot with effective assistance in avoiding severe weather.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 2005 · about 6:57 pm local time
- Place
- Port St. Lucie, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P337H · all P337Hs on the register
- Registration
- N5HU · no longer on the register · serial P3370323
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on an IFR flight, the pilot was advised by the controller of an area of moderate to heavy precipitation at his twelve o-clock position five miles ahead. The pilot stated he would deviate around the weather on a 300 degree heading. Examination of recorded display data showed that when the pilot advised that he would be turning to a 300 degree heading to avoid weather, the controller's display was showing moderate (Level 2) and heavy (Level 3 to 4) and intense to extreme (Level 5 to 6) weather in that direction. The controller did not advise the pilot of the depicted weather as required by FAA Order 7110.65, paragraph 2-6-4, "Weather and Chaff Services." Review of weather radar images confirmed that shortly thereafter, the airplane penetrated an intense Level 5 thunderstorm. About 1 minute after the heading change, the pilot asked the controller if his heading was clear of weather, to which the controller responded that he could not suggest any headings. About 2 minutes later, the pilot asked the controller if there was weather ahead of him, and the controller did not respond. About 30 seconds later, the pilot again asked about weather in front of him and reported he was in "difficult shape." The controller responded that he showed the airplane encountering "extreme precipitation" and asked the pilot his intentions. The pilot requested a heading and the controller responded with a suggestion that the pilot turn 20 degrees right. The pilot acknowledged and shortly thereafter, the airplane entered a rapid descent. Several witnesses stated that they saw the airplane emerge from the clouds at an altitude of about 300 feet, on its side, and descending. They observed the airplane maneuvering erratically before it descended and impacted a house at a steep angle. A fire erupted, which destroyed the house and the airplane. According to witnesses "bad weather" was present in the area at the time of the accident, with heavy rain and lightning being observed. A Convective SIGMET was current for an area of thunderstorms with tops to 40,000 feet, moving little.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,488 hours in all; 337 in this make and model; 1,197 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-360CB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-360CB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BCT Boca Raton FL at 6:31 pm
- Destination: MYR Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from SUA, 10 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.