Crash That Killed Tampa Doctor Caused By Wrong Fuel

The NTSB has released a report detailing the October 2019 crash that killed pilot Daniel Greenwald, 59, of Tampa Florida. The report reveals that the plane crash was due to dual engine failure after the aircraft was filled with Jet A fuel instead of Avgas.

After the engines failed, Greenwald’s “exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack” resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control of the plane shortly after taking off. Inadequate supervision of fuel servicing was a contributing factor to the crash, according to the report.

Greenwald was the only occupant of the plane.

Greenwald left Tampa’s Peter O. Knight airport around 6:45 am on October 5, 2019, and arrived at Kokomo Municipal at 10:27 am, with his plan to train another pilot in the Piper Aerostar 602P. An airport worker told investigators that during Greenwald’s approach to the airport in the Aerostar, the worker asked Greenwald if he wanted jet fuel in the plane and Greenwald replied yes.

The employee involved stated the Aerostar looked like a jet plane, but it is actually a propeller plane with twin engines that need to run with standard low lead aviation gasoline.

A lawsuit was concluded for $700,000 to Greenwald’s estate with the city of Kokomo earlier in 2021, which represents the maximum amount allowed under Indiana’s tort claim laws.

Greenwald was a doctor in Tampa who was loved by his patients. He volunteered overseas providing free medical care for those who could not otherwise afford it.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov