What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On September 21, 2004 at approximately 1930 local time, the two certificated flight instructor pilots were conducting an aircraft "checkout flight" in the PA-32-301. While maneuvering, the aircraft experienced an in-flight breakup. A witness stated that he heard the engine slow down then speed up and start popping, then stop. The witness stated that he looked up and saw pieces of the airplane falling from the sky. The wreckage debris field covered an area approximately 1/2 mile long. The stabilator was found at the beginning of the debris field.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 1930 LOCAL TIME, THE TWO CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PILOTS WERE CONDUCTING AN AIRCRAFT "CHECKOUT FLIGHT" IN THE PA-32-301. WHILE MANEUVERING, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE SLOW DOWN THEN SPEED UP AND START POPPING, THEN STOP. THE WITNESS STATED THAT HE LOOKED UP AND SAW PIECES OF THE AIRPLANE FALLING FROM THE SKY. THE WRECKAGE DEBRIS FIELD COVERED AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE LONG. THE STABILATOR WAS FOUND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DEBRIS FIELD.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N801SP · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.