Piper PA-30 accident near Ponce, PR
On February 8, 2001, a Piper PA-30 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ponce, PR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 8, 2001
- Place
- Ponce, PR
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 17.996°N, 66.554°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010213X00440
NTSB summary
History of the Flight On February 8, 2001, about 0810 Atlantic Standard Time, a Piper PA-30, N181MM, registered to MAJ, LLC, and operated by the pilot, as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, from Ponce, Puerto Rico to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ponce. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. Witnesses stated the pilot had trouble starting the right engine while at the fueling ramp. After he got the right engine started it made a popping noise. The pilot taxied the airplane to runway 12 and proceeded to take off with the right engine still making a popping sound. After takeoff the airplane climbed to between 250-300 feet, with the landing gear still extended. The airplane then began to lose altitude and it was observed turning to the right. As the airplane turned right onto a downwind leg, it suddenly rolled to the right inverted and pitched down, making a descending right turn until ground impact. Personnel Information The pilot, age 55, held a FAA commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings, last issued on May 5, 1993. The pilot held a FAA flight instructor certificate with airplane single engine and instrument airplane ratings, issued on September 7, 1999, when the pilot received the instrument airplane rating. The pilot held a FAA class 2 medical certificate issued o
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to attempt flight with known deficiencies in the airplanes right engine, his failure to feather the right propeller after the engine failed , his failure to retract the landing gear following the engine failure, and his failure to maintain minimum single engine control speed (Vmc), resulting in loss of control of the airplane and impact with the ground during an uncontrolled d
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Browse: Puerto Rico · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
