# Accident 20030126008199A: Cessna O2A, Fernandina, FL, January 26, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 26, 2003, 15:20 local time
- Place: Fernandina, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.6136° N, 81.2806° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6136&lon=-81.2806&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52513, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52513-2015-05-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna O-2A (registry code 2074007, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-o-2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA O2A
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 990 total, 235 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA03FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03FA046) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030126008199A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FERNANDINA BEACH AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 14:30 ON A WHALE OBSERVATION FLIGHT. AIRCRAFT REPORTED SPOTTING A GROUP OF THREE WHALES AND DESCENDED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 700 FEET FOR DETAILED OBSERVATION AND PICTURE TAKING. WHILE CIRCLING THE WHALES THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO THE WATER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. THE PILOT AND ALL THREE PASSENGERS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATES THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATER IN A NEAR VERTICAL POSITION. THE WINGS AND UPPER SECTION OF THE CABIN WERE TORN FROM THE AIRCRAFT BUT REMAINED ATTACHED BY THE CONTROL CABLES. THE TAIL WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND INTACT WITH LITTLE DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR THE AREA WHERE THE TAIL BOOMS WERE TORN. THE TAIL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TORN OFF BY A TWISTING MOTION BREAKING AFT FORWARD END OF THE RIGHT BOOM AND THE AFT END OF THE LEFT BOOM. THE TAIL WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE WRECKAGE BY THE RIGHT RUDDER CABLE AND THE ELEVATOR TRIM CABLES. THE BLADES OF THE FORWARD PROP WERE BENT STRAIGHT BACK. THE REAR PROP HAD NO DAMAGE. THERE WAS NOT EVIDENCE OF ENGINE FAILURE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA03FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03FA046), Jan 26, 2003: Cessna M337B (O-2A) (N52513), Fernandina Bch, FL, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with the ocean.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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