What happened
During a flight at 15,500 feet above Holmdel, New Jersey, the aircraft underwent an explosive decompression of its cabin. During this event, a large section of the fuselage, measuring approximately 60 by 125 inches, separated from the airframe. This detached panel struck the third engine, which subsequently lost its propeller.
Following the structural failure, the crew initiated an emergency descent to reach a lower altitude. The aircraft successfully performed an emergency landing at a New York area airport. Although all 14 occupants were evacuated without injury, the aircraft sustained significant damage and was eventually determined to be a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the incident revealed that the cabin was pressurized for an altitude of only 2,500 feet while the plane was operating at 15,500 feet. The primary cause of the decompression was identified as a fatigue fracture within the fuselage. This structural failure was attributed to insufficient inspection and maintenance procedures performed by ground personnel.