Beech E33 accident near Orlando, Florida, April 18, 1999
On April 18, 1999 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Beech E33, registered N7204N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orlando, Florida (Orlando Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, resulting in the airplane departing the runway, and subsequently impacting with an airport sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1999 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E33 · all E33s on the register
- Registration
- N7204N · registry record · serial CD 1152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Airport personnel noticed that an airport sign was down, and saw tire tracks leading to the sign, plus there was a wing step found near the sign. The tire marks continued on the grass and tracked back to the runway. The FAA, issued a notice that they were searching for an airplane with a damaged step. The airplane was found at the Marion County Airport, Dunnellon, Florida. The FAA then located the pilot and owner. The pilot said on the takeoff roll the nosewheel lifted off the runway, but the engine lost manifold pressure, and the airplane departed the side of the runway. The pilot stated, '...on takeoff, we experienced a brief loss of power...a drop in airspeed and a cross wind caused aircraft to blow to the left of runway...aircraft began to stall, upon lowering of nose to prevent stall/crash-we struck runway sign...we did not know that aircraft was damaged until 30 minutes into flight...' According to the FAA's report, '...PIC [pilot-in-command] upon attempting a takeoff on runway 07...[about 1,000 feet down the runway, the airplane] departed the runway surface [north side] striking a...information sign, then continued the takeoff...landing at Dunnellon, Florida.'
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: 2,400 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,768 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 1998; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DTN Bossier City LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 7, 6,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from ORL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.