Piper PA23 accident near San Juan, PR

On June 2, 2020, a Piper PA23 (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Juan, PR. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

June 2, 2020

Place

San Juan, PR

Aircraft

Piper PA23 · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

18.459°N, 66.092°W

NTSB ID

20200602X42557

Official records · ERA20LA202

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Chronological Summary Of Flight Communications: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• NTSB Prepared Partial Transcription Of Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 2, 2020, about 1333 Atlantic standard time, a Piper PA-23-250, N14181, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident during takeoff from Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (TJIG), San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were fatally injured and a pilot-rated passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 post-maintenance flight test. The pilot-rated passenger, who occupied the right front seat and also held a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings, reported the pilot taxied to runway 9 where an engine run-up was performed and that no discrepancies were noted. The airplane was cleared for takeoff, the pilot applied takeoff power, and the airplane immediately yawed to the left as if the left engine was not producing power. The pilot aborted the takeoff and was able to control the airplane, which, according to the pilot-rated passenger, was “almost sideways.” The pilot-rated passenger later reported that he attributed the yaw to a loss of power from the left engine but at the time asked the pilot what would have caused the yaw, and the pilot responded that the left landing gear strut had less nitrogen than the right strut. However, according to a partial transcript of the pilot’s communications with air traffic control, he replied “…I think it’s a low tire” when asked if he needed any assistance. The pilot-rated passenger reported that the left engine quit while at idle power as they exited the runway. The pilot was able to r

Probable cause

The pilot’s intentional operation of the airplane with known deficiencies of the left engine and subsequent in-flight loss of control after takeoff. Contributing to the loss of engine power was internal contamination of the left servo fuel injector. Contributing to the loss of control was the pilot’s intentional operation below the single engine rate of climb airspeed, and his failure to feather t

More accidents in PR

• Cessna 206H, Feb 8, 2009
• Cessna A185F, Jul 1, 2011
• Cessna 441, Jan 5, 2002
• Rockwell International 690B, Dec 3, 2008
• Fairchild SA227-AC, Dec 3, 2013

Browse: Puerto Rico · Piper aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.