Boeing B75N1 accident near Lake Wales, Florida, April 10, 1997
On April 10, 1997 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Boeing B75N1, registered N65467, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida (River Ranch airport). 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 partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1997 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · River Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing B75N1 · all B75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N65467 · registry record · serial 75-6928
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the engine began losing power about 150 feet agl during climbout. He made a left crosswind turn to enter closed traffic and land; however, the airspeed started to decrease and the airplane could not maintain altitude. According to the pilot, there was only a partial loss of power. The pilot made a forced landing straight ahead, and the airplane collided with trees and terrain. Postaccident examination of the engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash failure or malfunction. Induction and fuel system components sustained impact damage or were consumed by fire. The fuel selector valve was found in the OFF position. The pilot stated that he could not specifically recall shutting off the fuel selector valve after impact. However, he stated that he had initiated an aircraft securing procedure before he was forced to evacuate because of leaking fuel and the ensuing fire.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,923 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 1,777 as pilot in command; 387 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,446 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 1996; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2RR at 10:19 pm
- Destination: LAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,950 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from MLB, 60 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.