Piper PA-32-260 accident near Culebra, Puerto Rico, June 25, 1991
On June 25, 1991 at about 8:21 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N5513J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Culebra, Puerto Rico. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 7 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OIL EXHAUSTION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1991 · about 8:21 pm local time
- Place
- Culebra, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5513J · no longer on the register · serial 32-970
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DESCENDING, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS DROPPING. HE INITIATED A TURN TO LAND AT AN ARPT ON A NEARBY ISLAND BUT STATED THE ENG THEN QUIT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND AT THE ARPT AND DITCHED THE ACFT. THE ENG WAS RECOVERED, AND THE OIL SUMP WAS DETERIORATED DUE TO SALT WATER IMMERSION. THE ENG WAS DISASSEMBLED WHICH REVEALED THE NO. 5 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD FAILED DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. DURING THE DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENG ONLY TRACE AMOUNTS OF OIL WERE FOUND. THE LOGBOOKS RECORDED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND THE ACFT HAD OPERATED ABOUT 1 HOUR SINCE.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,939 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 1,891 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1991; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alas Del Caribe Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: STT St. Thomas at 7:50 pm
- Destination: X95 Fajaro PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.