Piper PA-32-301 accident near Dorado, Puerto Rico, November 16, 1992
On November 16, 1992 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N1310M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dorado, Puerto Rico (Dorado 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
POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PARTIAL BLOCKAGE OF THE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM AND INCORRECT AIRSPEED INDICATOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 1992 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dorado, Puerto Rico · Dorado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N1310M · registry record · serial 32-8606018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF PLT OBSERVED THAT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS INDICATING LOW, AND THAT THE ACFT WAS BANKING TO THE RT UNCOMMANDED. HE LANDED FAST AT AN ARPT 12 NM AWAY, TRAVELLED OFF THE END OF THE RWY, AND COLLIDED WITH BUSHES. FUEL IMBALANCE WAS NOT A FACTOR. A MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE ACFT REPORTED THAT THE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM WAS PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY CONTAMINANTS. THE RIGGING OF THE AILERONS AND FLAPS CHECKED SATISFACTORY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 289 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 266 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 726 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ganaderos Alvarado, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SIG San Juan PR at 2:45 pm
- Destination: ABO Arecibo PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 16,000 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from SJU, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.