Piper PA 23-250 accident near South Bimini, Bs, June 19, 2016
On June 19, 2016 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Piper PA 23-250, registered N63ZZ, was destroyed in an accident during landing near South Bimini. It was a flight test under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were 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
- June 19, 2016 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- South Bimini, Bahamas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 23-250 250 · all PA 23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N63ZZ · no longer on the register · serial 27-2421
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight test · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 19, 2016, about 2120 UTC, a Piper PA-23, N63ZZ was destroyed when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near South Bimini International Airport, South Bimini, Bahamas. Two occupants were fatally injured during the local test flight. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department. Any further information pertaining to this may obtained from: Air Accident Investigation Dept. Bahamas Civil Aviation Department P.O. Box AP-59244 Nassau N.P., Bahamas 242-397-4700 ext. 4767 Fax: 242-356-3203 Website: http://www.aaipu-bcaa.com/ This report is for information purposes and contains only information released by the government of the Bahamas.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during landing defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming 0-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming 0-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: South Bimini
- Destination: South Bimini
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.