Piper PA-32-300 N4121W

Summary

On 1 May 1998 at about 18:00 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N4121W was involved in an accident near Panama City, Florida, United States. 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

1 May 1998 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Panama City, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N4121W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Perry → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL98LA069

2 people had minor injuries.

The engine crankshaft fracturing, leading to total powerplant failure. Contributing to the severity of the accident was a utility pole.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane experienced a catastrophic engine failure, and the pilot executed an emergency landing near Panama City, Florida. During the flare, the left wing impacted a utility pole causing substantial damage to the airplane. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft had fractured at the connection rod thrust surface adjacent to the front fillet radius of No. 6 crankpin journal. Metallurgical examination concluded that the crankshaft fractured in fatigue at the connection rod thrust surface, adjacent to the front fillet radius of the No. 6 crankpin journal due to high stress. However, exact cause of the high stress remains undetermined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.