What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On February 8, 2001, about 0800 ast, a Piper PA-30, N181MM, registered to maj LLC, and operated by the pilot, as a 14 CFR part 91 flight, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ponce, PR. Witnesses stated the pilot had trouble starting the right engine while at the fuel ramp. After he got the right engine started it made apopping noise. He pilot taxied the airplane to runway 12 and proceeded to take off with the right engine still making a popping noise. After takeoff the plane climbed between 250-300 feet, with the landing gear still extended. The airplane then began to lose altitude and it was observed turning to the right. As the plane turned right onto a downhill leg, it suddenly rolled to the right inverted and pitched down, descending until ground impact.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON FEBRUARY 8, 2001, ABOUT 0800 AST, A PIPER PA-30, N181MM, REGISTERED TO MAJ LLC, AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, AS A 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT, CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM PONCE, PR. WITNESSES STATED THE PILOT HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE RIGHT ENGINE WHILE AT THE FUEL RAMP. AFTER HE GOT THE RIGHT ENGINE STARTED IT MADE APOPPING NOISE. HE PILOT TAXIED THE AIRPLANE TO RUNWAY 12 AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF WITH THE RIGHT ENGINE STILL MAKING A POPPING NOISE. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLANE CLIMBED BETWEEN 250-300 FEET, WITH THE LANDING GEAR STILL EXTENDED. THE AIRPLANE THEN BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND IT WAS OBSERVED TURNING TO THE RIGHT. AS THE PLANE TURNED RIGHT ONTO A DOWNHILL LEG, IT SUDDENLY ROLLED TO THE RIGHT INVERTED AND PITCHED DOWN, DESCENDING UNTIL GROUND IMPACT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.