MIA95FA087

The airplane was in cruise flight on a north heading when the pilot was given SIGMET information by air traffic control (ATC) for thunderstorms present in the area. The pilot requested to deviate from his assigned clearance, and ATC suggested a northwest heading, which the pilot accepted. The airplane was last seen on radar at 0925, and no further communications transpired. The airplane was observed by a witness crashing into an orange grove near Vero Beach during heavy rain. The airplane broke up in flight.

History of flight

On March 17, 1995, about 0925 eastern standard time, a Cessna 337F, N1842M, registered to the pilot, crashed about 13 miles southwest of Vero Beach vortac, Vero Beach, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Florida, the same day of the accident about 0839. The proposed destination was Titusville, Florida.

The flight departed Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, about 0839, and was handled with routine communications, and controller transfers until about 0853, when the pilot questioned controllers about "build ups" ahead. At 0913, controllers on duty cleared the pilot to deviate as necessary and the pilot elected to deviate to the west. At 0923, radar and radio contact was lost with the airplane. The Indian River County Sheriff's Office located the wreckage about 1015, after receiving reports from witnesses who heard the crash.

Personnel information

The pilot was the holder of a commercial pilot's certificate with ratings for airplane multi engine, centerline thrust only. He obtained an instrument rating on January 26, 1994, at which time he claimed to have logged a total of 450 hours of flight time. A review of his logbook revealed that at the time of the accident he had logged a total of 698 hours of which 318 were insrument. A review of the log indicated that every flight that was logged was logged as all flight time instrument time.

Aircraft information

Information on the aircraft is included in this report as supplements and attachments.

Meteorological information

The pilot had requested and received a weather briefing earlier in the day before filing an IFR flight plan. During the briefing he was issued Sigmet 38E which called for convective thunderstorms southwest of Vero Beach, Florida. The weather at the time of the accident was heavy rain as observed by personnel on the ground. The satellite imagery available indicates heavy thunderstorms in the area at the time of the accident.

Wreckage and impact information

The aircraft wreckage was found in Barnes Grove, Section 38, blocks 5 and 6, in Indian River County, Florida. Separated aircraft components were found in a relatively straight line, on an approximate 315-degree heading. All components needed for flight were found scattered along the wreckage path.

The fuselage and attached forward engine were found in the most northwestern location. The aft engine was found 50 yards southwest of the main wreckage. The left wing and main tail boom were found 200 yards southeast of the main wreckage. The right wing was found 300 yards southeast of the main wreckage. All control cables exhibited failures consistent with overload.

Examination of the propellers of both engines indicated leading edge damage, chordwise scarring, and torsional twisting. Both propellers were found attached to their engines. Both engines were found dug into the ground, propeller first.

Examination of the right wing indicated 3 feet of main spar cap was sheared from the shear web in an up and aft twisting manner. Examination of the left wing revealed one foot of the main spar cap sheared from the shear web in an up and slightly aft manner. Both tail booms were separated at the same location in a downward manner with failure signature consistent with overload.

Medical and pathological information

A post-mortem examination of the pilot was conducted by Frederick P. Hobin, M.D. He stated the cause of death to be blunt traumatic forces caused from the accident. A toxicology was performed by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. The results were negative for alcohol, carbon monoxide, and acetic and basic drugs.

Additional information

The wreckage was released to Mr. Gene Shiel, Loss Management Services, on March 18, 1995, as a representative of the insurance carrier of the pilot.