- Date
- September 9, 1986, 07:11 local (11:11 UTC)
- Place
- Binghamton, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N90349Piper PA-60-600
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860909081499I
- Case key
- 30240
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt stated that after leveling off at 9000 ft MSL. He heard a pop followed by an explosion in the left eng. The entire left side of the upper cowling was protruding into the airstream which caused the aircraft to roll to the right. The pilot had to use full right rudder & half left aileron deflection to maintain control. Unable to maintain alt at blue line, an emergency was declared & radar vectors requested to nearest airport. When the airport perimeter was crossed the acft was less than 10 ft above the ground. Pilot elected to land gear up on the grass between the runway & taxiway. Investigation revealed that the explosion was caused by a failed cylinder.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N90349
- Reported as
- Piper PA-60-600
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 60-0202090
- Airframe hours
- 9,604
- Engine
- Lycoming 10-540-K1F5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Air Continental,Inc.
- Registered owner
- Masters & Sumpter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · August 14, 1986 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- BUF · Buffalo, NY
- Destination
- TEB · Teterboro, NJ
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- BGM · Edwin A. Link Field
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,718 total · 1,497 in this make and model · 3,568 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BGM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.