Piper PA-28-140 accident near Lehigh Acres, Florida, February 16, 2006
On February 16, 2006 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N14MA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lehigh Acres, 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
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, resulting in a nose-over during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2006 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lehigh Acres, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N14MA · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While flying the airplane 8 days earlier the engine experienced a loss of engine power and the pilot performed a successful forced landing in a field. The carburetor was overhauled and reinstalled. The airplane was then flown to a nearby airport where the airplane was inspected again and approved for return to service. The fuel tanks were filled and the accident flight departed. During cruise flight at 2,500 feet, the engine experienced a loss of engine power which the pilot was unable to restore. The airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing. Postaccident testing of the carburetor revealed several discrepancies but no determination was made as to the reason for the loss of engine power. The carburetor installed at the time of the accident was incorrect per the airplane type certificate data sheet.
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
- Flight time: 2,611 hours in all; 323 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,771.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 09FA Lake Placid FL at 11:00 pm
- Destination: FA37 Naples FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KRSW
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.