What happened
On July 26, 2015, at approximately 12:15 p.m., a Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior, registration HI-651, crashed in the Estancia Nueva area of Puñal-Santiago, Dominican Republic. The aircraft was operating a private flight approximately four miles southwest of Cibao International Airport (MDST). The impact with the terrain resulted in the three fatalities of all occupants on board, including the pilot. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation established that the aircraft had recently undergone maintenance to address discrepancies found during a previous test flight. The aircraft's owner/pilot had stepped away for lunch, leaving the maintenance technician—who also held a private pilot license—to complete the work. After finishing the adjustments, the technician decided to fly the aircraft with two passengers without waiting for the owner to return.
Witnesses in the area reported seeing the aircraft performing low-altitude passes and certain acrobatic maneuvers. During these maneuvers, observers heard engine detonations, which are characteristic of a reciprocating engine experiencing fuel starvation. The investigation examined the wreckage, including the propeller blades, and found no evidence of fuel in the tanks or leaks in the fuel lines. The propeller condition confirmed that the engine was not producing power at the moment of impact.
Findings
- The engine failed due to fuel exhaustion.
- The pilot failed to visually verify the fuel quantity in the tanks prior to departure.
- The aircraft was performing low-altitude maneuvers at the time of the engine failure, leaving the crew with no opportunity to perform an emergency landing in a suitable area.
- The aircraft struck the ground in a right-hand turn.
Safety action
- The CIAA recommends that the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) implement measures to ensure that test flights are not conducted by the same individuals who performed the maintenance work on the aircraft.