Piper PA-32-300 accident near Panama City, Florida, May 1, 1998
On May 1, 1998 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4121W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panama City, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The engine crankshaft fracturing, leading to total powerplant failure. Contributing to the severity of the accident was a utility pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1998 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4121W · no longer on the register · serial 32-40213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a catastrophic engine failure, and the pilot executed an emergency landing near Panama City, Florida. During the flare, the left wing impacted a utility pole causing substantial damage to the airplane. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft had fractured at the connection rod thrust surface adjacent to the front fillet radius of No. 6 crankpin journal. Metallurgical examination concluded that the crankshaft fractured in fatigue at the connection rod thrust surface, adjacent to the front fillet radius of the No. 6 crankpin journal due to high stress. However, exact cause of the high stress remains undetermined.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 631 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 576 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PXE Perry GA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: PFN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from PFN, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.