Plane Crash List

Piper PA-32-260 N390G

21 March 1989 · Kershaw, South Carolina, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 21 March 1989 at about 03:45 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N390G, operated by Coastal Planes Airways, was involved in an accident near Kershaw, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and 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.

The record

Date
at 03:45
Classification
Accident
Location
Kershaw, South Carolina, United States
Coordinates
34.5394, -80.5804
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-260
Registration
N390G
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Coastal Planes Airways
Operating rule
Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Southern Pines → Thomaston
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Dark
NTSB number
ATL89LA110

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT DOWEL PIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO FOLLOW THE APPLICABLE SERVICE BULLETIN AND DARKNESS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT RPRTD THE ENG ABRUPTLY LOST ALL POWER DURING CRUISE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LNDG AT NIGHT & BOTH WINGS WERE TORN OFF. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR BOLT WAS LOOSE, AND THAT THE GEAR ALIGNMENT DOWL WAS SHEARED, WHICH HAD RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENG GEAR TRAIN CONTINUITY. A METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED THE DOWEL PIN HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR'S MECHANIC, THE ENG HAD EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN STOPPAGE DUE TO A PROP STRIKE ABOUT 151 OPERATING HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. LYCOMING SERVICE BULLETIN #465 OUTLINED MANDATORY INSPECTION, MODIFICATION, AND ASSY PROCEDURES FOR THE CRANK GEAR TO BE COMPLIED WITH DURING OVHL, AFTER A PROP STRIKE OR WHEN EVER GEAR TRAIN REPAIR IS REQUIRED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THE BULLETIN WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH AFTER THE PROP STRIKE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-32 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Mar 1989 Piper PA-32
N4257T
Kasigluk, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
26 Apr 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N8654N
Eufaula, Oklahoma, United States Bauer, Kathleen No injuries -
26 Nov 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N416CP
Boulder City, Nevada, United States Bellis, James E. No injuries -
1 Aug 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N8909N
Danbury, Connecticut, United States
no coordinates
Miles B Reese No injuries -
16 Jun 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N32062
Eek, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
23 Jun 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N15306
Tuntutuliak, Alaska, United States - No injuries -

All 1,695 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
3 Aug 1989 Cessna 152
N5292M
York, South Carolina, United States - Fatal 1
6 May 1989 Cessna 182A
N4985D
Lugoff, South Carolina, United States Lugoff Para-Flite Club, Inc. Serious injuries -
2 Jun 1989 Champion 7GCBC
N1652G
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States Barnstormers FLT. Signs, Inc No injuries -
8 Jul 1989 Piper PA28-140
N4594T
Holly Hill, South Carolina, United States John J. Kaiser No injuries -
16 Jul 1989 Cessna P210N
N132WW
Jackson, South Carolina, United States - No injuries -
1 Aug 1989 Cessna 172L
N336AF
N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States