Piper PA32 - 300 accident near Tinian Island, October 6, 2013
On October 6, 2013 at about 2:51 am local time, a 1967 Piper PA32 - 300, registered N4089W, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Tinian Island. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were killed and 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering at low altitude in dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2013 · about 2:51 am local time
- Place
- Tinian Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32 - 300, built 1967 · all PA32 - 300s on the register
- Registration
- N4089W · no longer on the register · serial 32-40145
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a night visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight, the pilot encountered a rain shower that reduced the cloud ceiling and visibility, so he then attempted to return to the departure airport. While maneuvering, the airplane descended and impacted terrain. A witness estimated that the airplane's altitude was less than 500 feet. He saw the airplane make a sharp left turn and then fly out of his view and then he heard the sound of a crash. Physical evidence observed at the accident site was consistent with controlled flight into terrain. No evidence was found of any preimpact mechanical discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Damage to the propeller blades was consistent with the engine developing power at impact. It is likely that the pilot attempted to maintain VFR flight by descending to remain below the clouds and was unable to see and avoid the terrain due to dark night conditions.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,573 hours in all; 499 in this make and model; 242 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 3,531 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 7, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,003 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 5, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 1,380 hours total
- Operator: Star Marianas Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: PGWT Tinian Island at 2:41 am
- Destination: PGSN Obyan
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 am from PGSN, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 4 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4089W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.