Raytheon Bonanza accident near South Bay, Florida, April 13, 2005
On April 13, 2005, a Raytheon Bonanza, registered N448T, was destroyed in an accident near South Bay, Florida. 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
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while in cruise flight. Factors include night conditions and flat featureless terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2005
- Place
- South Bay, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Bonanza
- Registration
- N448T · registry record · serial E-3602
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately one hour after takeoff, while in cruise flight at approximately 4,500 feet MSL, radar and radio communications with the pilot/aircraft were lost. The pilot was on the return leg of a round-robin flight that originated earlier that day. Radar information indicated the airplane started a descending right turn shortly before it disappeared from radar coverage. The airplane wreckage was later located near the general vicinity of the last radar return. Airman records indicated that the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate approximately three months prior to the accident. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating. The end of civil twilight was at approximately six minutes after the time of the accident. No evidence was found to indicate a pre-impact mechanical malfunction or irregularity with the airplane that may have contributed to the accident.
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
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 25 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550 B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TPA Tampa FL at 11:19 pm
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KPBI, 26 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.