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NTSB Report
June 26, 1990 · Piper PA-31 · N18PA
Panama City, FL
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 26, 1990
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Panama City, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-31
Tail Number
N18PA
Operator
Panama Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA90FA145
WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE TAKEOFF AS A LONG GROUND ROLL, SLOW CLIMB, AND ENGINES NOT SOUNDING NORMAL. THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED INTO TREES. TEARDOWN OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED WATER PRESENT IN THE FUEL INJECTOR LINES OF #1, #3 AND #5 CYLS. #3 NOZZLE PLUGGED. INTAKE VALVES DARK & SOOTY. PISTONS 1, 3 AND 5 HAD CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF DARK CARBON DEPOSITS. TEARDOWN OF RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED EXTENSIVE CARBON BUILDUPS THROUGHOUT. AN ENGINE TEST RUN WAS PERFORMED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE DAY BEFORE ACCIDENT. PERSONNEL FORMERLY EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR PROVIDED WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF ALLEGATIONS PERTAINING TO THE GENERAL CONDITION OF COMPANY AIRPLANES, FALSIFICATION OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS, AND IMPROPER MAINTANANCE PROCEDURES BEING PERFORMED ON COMPANY AIRPLANES.
NTSB Probable Cause
A LOSS OF POWER ON BOTH ENGINES DURING TAKEOFF AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
Full Narrative
WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE TAKEOFF AS A LONG GROUND ROLL, SLOW CLIMB, AND ENGINES NOT SOUNDING NORMAL. THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED INTO TREES. TEARDOWN OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED WATER PRESENT IN THE FUEL INJECTOR LINES OF #1, #3 AND #5 CYLS. #3 NOZZLE PLUGGED. INTAKE VALVES DARK & SOOTY. PISTONS 1, 3 AND 5 HAD CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF DARK CARBON DEPOSITS. TEARDOWN OF RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED EXTENSIVE CARBON BUILDUPS THROUGHOUT. AN ENGINE TEST RUN WAS PERFORMED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE DAY BEFORE ACCIDENT. PERSONNEL FORMERLY EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR PROVIDED WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF ALLEGATIONS PERTAINING TO THE GENERAL CONDITION OF COMPANY AIRPLANES, FALSIFICATION OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS, AND IMPROPER MAINTANANCE PROCEDURES BEING PERFORMED ON COMPANY AIRPLANES.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:15 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-31
Tail NumberN18PA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPanama Aviation
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540F2BD · Reciprocating · 325
Seats8
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 64 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDawn
Wind10° @ 3 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time09:47
Weather SourceWFAC