Piper PA-32-300 N999MA

Summary

On 16 July 1989 at about 11:12 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N999MA, operated by Smith, Vincent, was involved in an accident near Luquillo. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 July 1989 at 11:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Luquillo

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N999MA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Smith, Vincent

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Juan → St. Thomas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA89LA200

2 people had minor injuries.

FAILURE OF THE LEFT EXHAUST STACK WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FIRE, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND SUBSEQUENT DITCHING OF THE ACFT IN OCEAN WATERS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG FLT OVER THE OCEAN, HE SMELLED AN ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO GLIDE THE ACFT TO ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM SHORE, THEN HE DITCHED IT IN THE OCEAN. LATER, THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT EXHAUST STACK HAD FAILED & THE ESCAPING EXHAUST GASES HAD RESULTED IN AN ENG COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.