On July 8, 1989, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N6941Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Goodway, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE LEFT WING WHICH FAILED BECAUSE OF A CORROSION INDUCED FATIGUE FRACTURE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an aerial application flight, the left wing separated and the aircraft struck a house. Examination revealed a fatigue fracture originating at a rivet hole with intergranular corrosion.
Accident Overview
During an aerial application flight, the left wing separated from the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently struck the top of a house.
Examination Findings
Examination of the separated wing revealed a fatigue fracture in the wing's lower spar cap. Metallurgical analysis of the fracture surface showed that the crack initiated on opposite sides of a rivet hole. At one of the initiation sites, intergranular corrosion was present. The opposite initiation site had been mechanically mutilated, obscuring the original fracture features.
Previous Modification
In August 1977, all-metal wings were installed on the airplane under a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…