Vieques Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Isbela Segunda
Tuesady, October 31, 1995 15:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft was on a VFR maintenance test flight. After takeoff, about 200 feet MSL, witnesses noticed the forward baggage door open. The pilot reduced power and began maneuvering. The aircraft stalled, banked left, and dove into the ocean. A witness stated that he heard the power increase prior to the aircraft entering the water. A discrepancy on the locking mechanism of the forward baggage door had been written up on 8/31/95, and no corrective action had been noted. Examination of the wreckage revealed improper maintenance of the forward baggage door locking mechanism and lock attach points.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft resulting in a stall. A factor was the mechanic's failure to properly maintain the forward baggage door locking mechanism.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/31/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City ISBELA SEGUNDA
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00765
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport VIEQUES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VQS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 46
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID JNR
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1917
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 31 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1612
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N250HP
NTSB Number ATL96FA010
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 27-2969
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 11 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4912
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ISLA NENA AIR SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 259
Aircraft Owner City VIEQUES
Aircraft Owner State PR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 00765
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code IN9A
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code VQS
Departure City VIEQUES
Departure State PR
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --