Piper PA23 accident near San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 9, 2015
On March 9, 2015 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1955 Piper PA23, registered N1153P, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near San Juan, Puerto Rico (Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of right engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2015 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Juan, Puerto Rico · Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA23 250, built 1955 · all PA23s on the register
- Registration
- N1153P · no longer on the register · serial 23-166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the commercial pilot, before departing for the personal flight, he had the airplane fueled with a total of 50 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel (25 gallons of fuel in each wing tank). He then performed an engine run-up and noted that all parameters were "normal." After the airplane became airborne, it obtained a positive climb rate of 500 ft per minute. When the airplane reached about 300 ft above ground level, the right engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot subsequently feathered the propeller but noticed that the airplane was unable to maintain altitude, so he performed an emergency landing to a lagoon. A postaccident examination of the right engine confirmed crankshaft continuity; however, two of the four cylinders exhibited low compression ratios. The right engine-driven fuel pump, carburetor, and fuel selector were disassembled and examined, and corrosion was noted in all of the components. It could not be determined if the corrosion was a result of the airplane being submerged in salt water after the accident or if it was present before the accident. Wreckage examination and component testing did not reveal a mechanical reason for the partial power loss. The reported weather conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, the engine was operating at a high power setting for takeoff; therefore, it is unlikely that carburetor ice caused the total loss of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,501 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SIG San Juan PR at 3:55 pm
- Destination: STT St. Thomas
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from SIG, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.