Piper PA-32-260 N5513J
25 June 1991 · Culebra · Minor injuries
Summary
On 25 June 1991 at about 20:21 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N5513J, operated by Alas del Caribe Airlines, was involved in an accident near Culebra. 7 people were on board and 7 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 20:21
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Culebra
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260
- Registration
- N5513J
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Alas del Caribe Airlines
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- St. Thomas → Fajaro
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA91LA168
People
7 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Probable cause
OIL EXHAUSTION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER DESCENDING, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS DROPPING. HE INITIATED A TURN TO LAND AT AN ARPT ON A NEARBY ISLAND BUT STATED THE ENG THEN QUIT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND AT THE ARPT AND DITCHED THE ACFT. THE ENG WAS RECOVERED, AND THE OIL SUMP WAS DETERIORATED DUE TO SALT WATER IMMERSION. THE ENG WAS DISASSEMBLED WHICH REVEALED THE NO. 5 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD FAILED DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. DURING THE DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENG ONLY TRACE AMOUNTS OF OIL WERE FOUND. THE LOGBOOKS RECORDED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND THE ACFT HAD OPERATED ABOUT 1 HOUR SINCE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-32-300 | Reno, Nevada, United States | Joseph Pastuszek | No injuries | - |
| 24 May 1991 | Piper PA-32-300 | St. Charles, Missouri, United States | WEB Associate Electronic | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1991 | Piper PA-32-301 | Montauk, New York, United States | Three Wing Flying Service, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 May 1991 | Piper PA-32-300 | Clearwater, Florida, United States | Tropicair Pilot's Club | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Jan 1991 | Piper PA 32-300 | Anaheim, California, United States | Ameriflight | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-32-301 | Eek, Alaska, United States | Kusko Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |