# NTSB ERA12WA255: Piper PA-32R-300, N8415C, Treasure Cay, Bahamas, March 25, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: March 25, 2012, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Treasure Cay, Bahamas
- Coordinates: 26.745277, -77.391387 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7453&lon=-77.3914&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: Piper Aircraft, Bahamas Civil Aviation Department, Lycoming Engines, FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12WA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83218/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83218
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12WA255

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On March 25, 2012, at 1830 UTC, a Piper PA-32R-300, N8415C, was substantially damaged when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Treasure Cay International Airport (MYAT), Abaco, Bahamas. The two certificated private pilots and two passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a visual flight rules (VFR) international flight plan was filed for the personal flight destined for St. Lucie County International Airport (KFPR), Fort Pierce, Florida. According to preliminary information from the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department, the airplane impacted trees after departing downwind from runway 32. The wind at MYAT at the time of the accident was from 220 degrees at 15 knots. This investigation is being conducted by the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department, Air Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the government of the Bahamas. All inquires should be directed to the Air Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit at: PO BOX AP-59244 Nassau, Bahamas Telephone: (242) 377-3445

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8415C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8415C-2017-09-08), registration cancelled 2017-09-08, S/N 32R-7680112, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7680112
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gregory Schwartzenberger
- Registered owner: Moonchaser LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MYAT, Treasure Cay
- Destination: KFPR, Ft. Pierce, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MYAT, Treasure Cay Airport, runway 32, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 250 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: MYAT

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83218. 13 KB in all.

- Foreign Accident Statement (item 1, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Foreign%20Accident%20Statement-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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