Piper PA-32-260 accident near Orlando, Florida, February 3, 1999
On February 3, 1999 at about 3:10 am local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N5528J, was destroyed in an accident near Orlando, Florida (Orlando International airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to an engine assembly overload for undetermined reasons. A related factor was the pilot exceeded the airplane's maximum allowable weight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 1999 · about 3:10 am local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5528J · no longer on the register · serial 32-989
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while climbing after takeoff the engine lost power. He turned back to the departure airport. Witnesses observed the aircraft descending rapidly in a left turn and impact the runway with the left wing and nose area of the aircraft. The aircraft caught fire, slid down the runway inverted, and came to rest. The pilot and passenger exited the aircraft through the main door. Post crash examination of the engine showed 9 of 12 cam followers were broken due to overstress. No foreign objects were found in the engine and no other evidence of failure or malfunction in the engine were found. Weight and balance calculations showed the aircraft was about 396 pounds over the maximum allowable takeoff weight.
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: 645 hours in all; 190 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 525 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,236 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1998; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Tropical Aircraft
The flight
- Departed from: MCO at 3:07 am
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:10 am from MCO, 1 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.