Amateur-built COOT accident near New Port Richey, Florida, March 6, 1998
On March 6, 1998 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built COOT, registered N84MN, was destroyed in an accident near New Port Richey, Florida (Tampa Bay Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to obtain/maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 1998 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Port Richey, Florida · Tampa Bay Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built COOT
- Registration
- N84MN · no longer on the register · serial TT-55
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane on takeoff about 10 to 15 feet above the runway in a left wing low attitude. According to them, the airplane appeared to be very near stall speed while climbing. They reported that the airplane continued climbing to the north between 100 to 150 feet, and appeared to enter a stall. The airplane rotated to the left, the angle of bank increased to about 60 to 70 degrees, and the nose pitched down about 50 to 60 degrees. No change in engine sound was noted. The airplane hit a pole as it plunged to the ground, and a postcrash fire ensued.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 247 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: X-41 at 4:29 pm
- Destination: MTH Marathon FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 5,001 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from TPA, 15 miles away
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.