Story ID: 
Preliminary Report: Turboprop Hits Water
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: CESSNA 441, GREENACRES CITY, FLA., DEC.
Word Count: 231
CESSNA 441, GREENACRES CITY, FLA., DEC. 30, 2003–Cessna N111RC crashed into a lake at about 11:15 a.m. in a residential area of Greenacres City, killing the sole occupant and destroying the aircraft. The aircraft was on a Part 91 flight in VMC and was not on a flight plan. N111RC’s flight originated from Boca Raton Airport (BCT), Fla., approximately 30 minutes before the accident.

The pilot contacted West Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), Fla., for a practice ILS approach. The pilot was instructed by the controller to proceed northwestbound and maintain 2,500 feet. Radar indicated the target tracked a northerly heading until five miles southwest of PBI. ATC instructed the pilot to turn southbound due to traffic from the west. Radar coverage then became intermittent.

At 11:14 a.m. ATC radar picked up the aircraft four miles southwest of PBI and indicated the Cessna was at 1,800 feet, with a groundspeed of 106 knots and a heading of 104 degrees. At 11:14:38 the flight was at 1,800 feet, heading 111 degrees at 97 knots. At 11:14:58, 1,700 feet, heading 125 degrees at 85 knots. At 11:15:08, 1,000 feet, heading 122 degrees at 74 knots. The last radar return at 11:15:13 indicated the airplane at 200 feet, heading 093 degrees at 64 knots. Several witnesses saw the airplane circle twice with the engines revving up and down, while going lower and lower until the twin turboprop hit the water. An investigation is in progress.