Event MIA00LA061

Factual narrative

On January 4, 2000, at about 1808 eastern standard time, an EAA Chapter 229, Zenair 601, N229FF, registered to EAA Chapter 229, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a loss of directional control on landing rollout at Kissimmee Municipal Airport, Kissimmee, Florida, and crashed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Winter Haven, Florida, (GIF) about 1 hour 8 minutes before the accident. The private pilot stated he departed GIF on a local flight and became disoriented as it was beginning to get dark. He went up on guard frequency and attempted to get some help. He could not locate his position. He observed a city in the distance, and flew towards the city. He figured it would have an airport. As he approached the city, he saw a runway and entered left base without contacting the control tower. He lost directional control of the airplane on touchdown, the airplane went off the side of the runway and collided with a barricade. The pilot stated he departed on a VFR local flight with a passenger. It became dark and he became disoriented. He saw a city in the distance, thought it might have an airport, and flew towards it. He made an approach without contacting the control tower. He lost directional control of the airplane on touchdown. The airplane went off the side of the runway and collided with a barricade. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12