Beech F33A accident near Lakeland, Florida, December 15, 1990
On December 15, 1990 at about 12:44 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N81562, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeland, Florida. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THIS CAUSED THE PISTONS TO SEIZE IN THE CYLINDERS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 1990 · about 12:44 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N81562 · no longer on the register · serial CE-1535
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE DEPARTURE, THE PLT PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT & PERFORMED AN ENG RUN-UP WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. AFTER DEPARTURE WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 5,500 FT, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT RESTARTED THE ENG BUT OBSERVED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS ZERO. THE ENG QUIT AGAIN & HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED OIL COATING THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE. THE ENG COMPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTAMINATED. THE ENG WAS REMOVED & EXAM OF IT REVEALED THAT THE NO'S 1,2,5, & 6 PISTONS SCORED THE CYLINDER WALLS. NO'S 3 & 4 PISTONS WERE NORMAL. DUE TO THE DAMAGE, NO DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE FAILED PISTONS & CYLINDERS COULD BE MADE. THE ENG DRIVEN OIL PUMP WAS EXAM & FOUND TO BE FREE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASONS FOR THE LOSS OF ENG OIL RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENG POWER DUE TO SEIZURE OF THE NO'S 1,2,5, & 6 PISTONS IN THE CYLINDERS. THE ACFT & ENG HAD ACCUMULATED 16.1 HRS SINCE MANUFACTURE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,600 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 12,300 as pilot in command; 2,310 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,835 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Globe Aero LTD.
The flight
- Destination: BGR Bangor ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.