NTSB Issues Initial Report On Crash That Killed Lakeland Pilot

WINTER HAVEN, FL -- Investigators looking into the Feb. 23 crash of a small plane that killed a Lakeland flight instructor were able to restart the engine that failed during a practice safety maneuver, according to a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The plane crashed through the roof of a Winter Haven home on Feb. 23 and seriously injured a teenage girl who was trapped in her bedroom. A flight student suffered minor injuries. The crash occurred at 12:43 p.m. in the 2700 block of Idylridge Drive, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

"A test run of the left engine mounted on the left wing was attempted. An external battery and engine controls were connected, and an external fuel tank was plumbed directly to the fuel pump inlet," the report said. "The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly and ran continuously at all selected power settings without interruption. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was noted during the examination of the recovered airframe and engines."

Sitxty-four-year-old James Wagner of Lakeland was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the instructor pilot of the UC-1 Twin SeaBee plane that had just taken off from Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport shortly before the crash.

"During the descent, the flight crew's engine restart procedures were unsuccessful and they determined that the airplane would not reach the selected forced landing site," the NTSB report said. "The instructor then chose a lake to the airplane's left as an alternate site. During the left descending turn, the airplane slowed, the left wing dropped and the airplane impacted a house, seriously injuring one of its occupants."

A witness in a fuel truck told investigators that she watched the aircraft at the time of the crash. "She saw both propellers rotating and watched as the left propeller stopped rotating," according to the NTSB report. "The witness said she then watched as the airplane 'sank' in a descending left turn until it disappeared from view."

The flight student was identified as 33-year-old Timothy Sheehy of Bozeman, Montana. who suffered minor injuries in the crash. Sheehy was able to exit the crashed plane on his own.

Eric Weiss, a spokesperson for the NTSB in Washington, D.C. cautioned that the preliminary report does not include a probable cause for the crash. He said that will come later in the investigation.

Three people were in the home when the five-seat, twin-engine, high-wing, amphibious airplanelost power and crashed shortly after take-off. The plane came to rest in a bedroom that was occupied by then 17-year-old Carmelle Ngalamulume, who was trapped in her bedroom as her brother, Joel, tried unsuccessfully to free her.

Their mother, Emerance , was taking a shower at the time of the crash. Neither the mother or the brother were injured, but Carmelle Ngalamulume was taken to a local hospital.

"There were three other children, ages 15, 11 and 2, who were playing in the
front yard of the home, and they were also uninjured," the Polk County Sheriff's Office said at the time of the crash, pointing out the family was lucky.

"As tragic as this was for Mr. Wagner and his family, this could have been
much, much worse," Polk County Sheriff Grady said at the time. "This crash is an unbelievable scene."

The airplane was owned by ESP Aviation LLC . The crash occurred on the aircraft's third flight of the day.

"According to the pilot, the instructor advised him before takeoff that he would introduce a simulated engine failure at some point during takeoff or climbout. Shortly after takeoff from runway 23, about 200-300 ft above ground level, the instructor reduced the throttle on the left engine and the left engine stopped producing power, and the propeller feathered," said the NTSB.

"They identified the failed engine, the instructor took over the flight controls, and selected a forced landing site," the report added. "During the descent, the flight crew's engine restart procedures were unsuccessful and they determined that the airplane would not reach the selected forced landing site. The instructor then chose a lake to the airplane's left as an alternate site. During the left descending turn, the airplane slowed, the left wing dropped, and the airplane impacted a house, seriously injuring one of its occupants."