Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Heathrow, Florida, November 16, 2005
On November 16, 2005 at about 1:53 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7453J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Heathrow, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing in a residential area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 2005 · about 1:53 am local time
- Place
- Heathrow, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7453J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with trees, a house and then the ground during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. According to the pilot during the preflight inspection he noted the fuel level in the left tank to be nearly full, and the fuel level in the right tank to be slightly above the tab. He further stated that after several touch-and-go landings and one full stop landing at various airports, he proceeded back to Orlando Sanford International Airport (KSFB). During descent to KSFB, the engine went to idle and was operating rough, but did not lose power. The pilot recalls advancing the mixture control to full rich, verifying that auxiliary fuel pump was in the "on" position, and that the fuel selector valve was in the left tank position. After changing the fuel selector valve to the right tank position, which had no affect on engine performance, he trimmed the airplane for 80 knots and executed an emergency descent to landing on a small community road. The airplane impacted the roof of a house and trees during the landing. The fuel selector was found halfway between the right tank and one of the off detents. Fuel was found in the fuel strainer, fuel lines in the engine compartment, and fuel distributor valve. An operational test of the fuel selector valve in the "as found" position was performed by blowing air into the gascolator inlet; resistance was noted. The same test was then performed by blowing air into the gascolator inlet with the fuel selector positioned to each respective tank, no resistance was noted. No discrepancies with the engine were noted during the postaccident examination.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 511 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 421 as pilot in command; 72 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSFB Sanford FL
- Destination: KSFB
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KSFB, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.