Socata TB-21C accident near Hollywood, Florida, March 21, 1997
On March 21, 1997 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Socata TB-21C, registered N55510, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hollywood, Florida (North Perry airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
continued flight by the pilot into adverse weather conditions, and the pilot allowing the aircraft to exceed its design stress limits. Weather associated with the thunderstorm was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 1997 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hollywood, Florida · North Perry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB-21C · all TB-21Cs on the register
- Registration
- N55510 · registry record · serial 1252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while being vectored after takeoff, he observed adverse weather ahead and advised the controller. The controller had received a PIREP, which indicated only light precipitation. The flight continued on the vectored heading and encountered severe adverse weather, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. The pilot regained control of the aircraft after obtaining visual reference with the ground, then the flight continued to the planned destination. The pilot was advised after the occurrence to contact the facility, which he did. He was advised by the area supervisor that '... he would take care of that, and I would have nothing to worry about.' During routine surveillance, an FAA inspector observed that the wing spars and vertical stabilizer of the aircraft had been damaged, and he notified the NTSB. The occurrence was first observed and reported to the NTSB 15 days after the date of the occurrence; therefore, voice and radar tapes from the ATC facility and from the FSS were not available for review.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,439 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 776 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1997; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,080 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4D5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO FL at 6:28 pm
- Destination: PFN Panama City FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from HWO
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.
Other NTSB records under N55510 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.