Piper L-21A accident near Lorida, Florida, July 10, 1995
On July 10, 1995 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Piper L-21A, registered N5425V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lorida, Florida. It was an aerial observation flight under public-use (government) rules. 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE HIS ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 1995 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lorida, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper L-21A · all L-21As on the register
- Registration
- N5425V · no longer on the register · serial 18-877
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SPOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT SUSPECT FROM THE AIR. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS DIRECTLY OVER THE SUSPECT IT ENTERED A STEEP BANK TO THE RIGHT. THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO REDUCE POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-ACCIDENT FAILURE NOR MALFUNCTION.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,117 hours in all; 511 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 1995; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEB Sebring FL at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:48 pm from BOW, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA95GA178.