# NTSB MIA88FA260: Partenavia P-68C, N39272, Duncan Town, Bahamas, August 19, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1988, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Duncan Town, Bahamas
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32038
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88FA260
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32038/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88FA260

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - wing,spar - failure,total (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE OCEAN NR DUNCAN TOWN, BAHAMAS. THE WX ACCORDING TO WITNESSES WAS VMC. THE FLT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE ENROUTE FROM NASSAU FOR ABOUT 1 HR AND 20 MINUTES. WITNESSES ON A NEARBY BOAT SAID THE ACFT WAS FLYING IN A SLIGHT LEFT BANK WHEN THE LEFT WING SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE ACFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND IMPACTED THE WATER. THE WRECKAGE SANK WHERE THE WATER WAS ABOUT 50 FT DEEP. THE LEFT OUTBOARD WING PANEL WAS RECOVERED AND EXAMINED AT THE NTSB LAB. ALL FRACTURES WERE FOUND TO BE FROM OVERSTRESS. NO PREEXISTING CRACKS WERE FOUND AND NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE OR FAILURE FROM CORROSION. THE WING TIP HAD CRUSHING DAMAGE AND A BLUE PAINT TRANSFER AS IF FROM A COLLISION. THE PARTLY BLUE VERTICAL STAB WAS DAMAGED FROM THE SEPARATED WING SECT STRIKING IT. THE WX REPORTED EN ROUTE WAS: BROKEN TO OVERCAST WITH RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. EXAM OF THE LATER RECOVERED INBOARD LEFT WING SECTION SHOWED SEPARATION OF THE OUTBOARD WING SECTION RESULTED FROM OVERSTRESS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39272](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39272-2012-11-21), registration cancelled 2012-11-21, S/N 283 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PARTENAVIA P-68C
- Registry model: [Partenavia P.68C](https://openairdocs.org/model/partenavia-p-68c) (registry code 6780105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 283
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1A6D 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: M D Air Services, Inc.
- Registered owner: Mtd Air Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MYNN, NASSAU, OF
- Destination: DUNCAN TOWN, OF
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 275 total, 35 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880819070809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880819070809A), Aug 19, 1988: Parten P68C, Duncan Town, Bahamas, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Left wing and engine seperated in flight. Cause was overload. Thunderstorms in area. Crashed into ocean and sank.

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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