The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB CEN16WA010 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA31 accident near Veracruz, Ni, October 2, 2015

On October 2, 2015 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Piper PA31, registered CGCMD, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Veracruz. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 2, 2015 · about 6:05 pm local time
Place
Veracruz, Nicaragua · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was killed.
Weather
not recorded
Aircraft
Piper PA31 · all PA31s on the register
Registration
CGCMD · no longer on the register
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Flight · non-U.S. private rules

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
  2. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Not recorded
  • Operator: Kalus Air Services, Inc.

The flight

  • Departed from: Managua at 3:35 pm
  • Flight plan: not recorded

Weather at the time

  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.