Piper PA-23-250 accident near Isbela Segunda, Puerto Rico, October 31, 1995
On October 31, 1995 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N250HP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Isbela Segunda, Puerto Rico (Vieques airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft resulting in a stall. A factor was the mechanic's failure to properly maintain the forward baggage door locking mechanism.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1995 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Isbela Segunda, Puerto Rico · Vieques
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N250HP · no longer on the register · serial 27-2969
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was on a VFR maintenance test flight. After takeoff, about 200 feet MSL, witnesses noticed the forward baggage door open. The pilot reduced power and began maneuvering. The aircraft stalled, banked left, and dove into the ocean. A witness stated that he heard the power increase prior to the aircraft entering the water. A discrepancy on the locking mechanism of the forward baggage door had been written up on 8/31/95, and no corrective action had been noted. Examination of the wreckage revealed improper maintenance of the forward baggage door locking mechanism and lock attach points.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,270 hours in all; 5,187 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,912 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VQS Vieques PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from JNR, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.