Piper PA-32-260 accident near Vieques, Puerto Rico, October 4, 1991
On October 4, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N563PR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vieques, Puerto Rico. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE INSPECTION RESULTING IN THE DEFECTIVE MUFFLER WHICH FAILED AND CAUSED AN INFLIGHT FIRE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vieques, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N563PR · registry record · serial 32-7200027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING. AFTER LANDING HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND GROUND CREWS EXTINGUISHED A FIRE WHICH HAD ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE HAD BURNED THROUGH THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA INSPECTORS INDICATED THE EXHAUST PIPE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER ALLOWING ENGINE EXHAUST TO EXIT ESCAPE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 2,053 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,696 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 1991; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: STT St. Thomas
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from STX, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.