Piper PA-23-250 N6937Y

Summary

On 24 June 1996 at about 01:27 local time, a Piper PA-23-250 registered N6937Y, operated by Mike Cornelius, was involved in an accident near Clanton, Alabama, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 1996 at 01:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Clanton, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

32.8404, -86.6206

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-250

Registration

N6937Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Mike Cornelius

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakeland → Alabaster

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL96FA095

5 people died.

corrosion pitting of the number six cylinder on the left engine, and subsequent fatigue fracture and separation of the cylinder, which led to an engine compartment fire, wing fire, and an in-flight separation of the left wing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During cruise flight at 6,000 feet, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he had an engine fire and needed to land immediately. Subsequently, the airplane's left wing separated in-flight, and the airplane crashed in an uncontrolled descent. An investigation revealed that the number six cylinder on the left engine had separated in-flight. Metallurgical examination of the cylinder revealed a fatigue fracture. The fatigue originated at a corrosion pit between the cylinder's cooling fins. There was evidence that fire erupted and spread to the left wing fuel tank, leading to separation of the wing. Also, heat streaking was noted on the left engine cowling and left horizontal stabilizer. Aircraft records showed that the engine had accumulated 1,682 hours of flight time since it was last overhauled on 5/19/75.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.