Incident Overview
A Japanese national and student pilot was conducting her first flight outside the airport traffic area when she became disoriented. Air traffic control personnel from the tower and approach control attempted to identify the aircraft on radar but were unsuccessful. The student pilot later reported that she lost her bearings after encountering smoke and haze, which originated from a fire in the Everglades.
Sequence of Events
After becoming lost, the pilot flew northbound until she flew over an airport. She then entered the traffic pattern to land. While continuing in the pattern, she noticed another aircraft ahead on a short final approach. She performed a 360-degree turn and continued her approach. Following an attempt to land behind the other aircraft, her airplane stalled, entered a steep descent, and crashed at midfield, approximately 250 feet to the left of the runway.
Pilot Communication and Conditions
The student pilot experienced difficulty communicating with air traffic control personnel after becoming lost, as she was not proficient in English. The smoke and haze that contributed to her disorientation were caused by a fire in the Everglades.
Aircraft Condition
No preimpact failure or malfunction of the aircraft was reported.