What happened
On the evening of September 9, 1999, a Piper PA-31-310, registration N6579L, was conducting a private flight from Nassau, New Providence, toward San Andros Airport. The aircraft, operated by Webs Planes, Inc., was flying under visual flight rules when an unexpected event occurred approximately 15 miles from the destination.
The pilot reported hearing a significant explosion originating from beneath the aircraft floorboards, which was immediately followed by a fire spreading into the cockpit. Despite efforts to suppress the flames, the fire persisted and the aircraft began to suffer a loss of engine power. During the emergency descent, the aircraft struck mangrove vegetation located roughly 50 yards east of the San Andros Airport runway.
While the impact and subsequent ground fire completely destroyed the aircraft, there were no injuries among the pilot and the six passengers on board.
Findings
Preliminary reports from the pilot suggested that the in-flight explosion and subsequent fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit located within the wiring underneath the cockpit floorboards.