# NTSB MIA95LA079: Piper PA-32-260, N598PR, Caribbean Sea, February 20, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 20, 1995, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Caribbean Sea
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37734
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37734/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA079

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

The pilot stated he was climbing through 1,700 feet msl when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. He notified the tower of the emergency, attempted to restart the engine with negative results, and made a forced landing into the Caribbean Sea. The airplane was not recovered.

## Factual narrative

On February 20, 1995, about 1320 Atlantic standard time, a Piper PA-32-260, N598PR, registered to Pablo Speroni, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power, and ditched into the Caribbean Sea about 3 miles west of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The airplane will not be recovered and is presumed to have been destroyed. The airline transport rated pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, about 5 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he was climbing through 1,700 feet msl when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. He notified the tower of the emergency, attempted to restart the engine with negative results, and made a forced landing into the Caribbean Sea. He further stated the airplane was not insured, and no attempt to locate and recover the airplane will be made.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N598PR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N598PR-1997-08-26), registration cancelled 1997-08-26, S/N 3243 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-43
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Speroni, Pablo
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: STT, ST. THOMAS
- Destination: VQS, VIEQUES, PR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,600 total, 150 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STT, 3 nm away

## 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 19950220002119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950220002119A), Feb 20, 1995: Piper PA32260, St Thomas U. S., VI, Destroyed. Reported engine lost power on climbout. Ditched in carribean. Cause unknown.

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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