Piper PA-31-310 Navajo crash, Mar 8, 2018 (2 killed), Laredo
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo accident on March 8, 2018 near Laredo, Texas, United States with 2 fatalities. Cause: NTSB: After an engine failure, the pilot...
- Date: March 8, 2018
- Aircraft: Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
- Location: Laredo, Texas, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: NTSB: After an engine failure, the pilot allowed the speed to fall below minimum controllable airspeed and lost control.
A Piper PA 31P Navajo departed Laredo, Texas on a local flight, and shortly after takeoff the left engine began producing smoke. The pilot turned back to land on a different runway and the aircraft stalled in a steep bank before hitting the ground near the runway and burning. The NTSB found the left propeller was not feathered and the landing gear was extended, and concluded that the airspeed fell below minimum controllable speed.