Piper PA-28-180 N9545J

Summary

On 1 December 1996 at about 17:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N9545J, operated by Edig Executive Aircraft Inc., was involved in an accident near Sugarloaf Key, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one 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

1 December 1996 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sugarloaf Key, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N9545J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Edig Executive Aircraft Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Key West → Ft Luaderdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

Unk

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA032

1 person was seriously injured.

a complete loss of engine power due to a disconnected connecting rod cap.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight the engine lost power, and the pilot elected to land on a road. As the airplane touched down the left wing struck the brush on the side of the road, veered left, and turned 180 degrees opposite the direction of travel. Witnesses reported seeing black smoke coming from the engine before impact. The airplane's engine was disassembled, and the examination revealed that the No. 3 connecting rod cap had become detached from the crankshaft assembly, resulting in external damage to the engine. In addition, the remaining connecting rod assemblies were found to be incorrectly installed, and the nuts were all found opposite end down. The No. 2 and No. 4 assemblies were found to be loose.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.