Fatal Malibu Turboprop Accident Being Investigated

On June 14 a JetProp DLX-converted 1988 Piper Malibu Mirage crashed in Osteen, Fla., while on an IFR flight from Raleigh-Durham, N.C., to Marco Island, Fla. According to the NTSB’s preliminary report, radio and radar contact were lost at 8:39 p.m. local time as the pilot attempted to deviate around thunderstorms at FL 260. The right wing separated and was found three days later, but not at the main crash site. All three on board were killed, including owner-pilot Calvin Miller of Naples, Fla. The aircraft was the 16th of a total of 83 PA-46s to be re-engined with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 by JetProp of Spokane, Wash. This is the only fatal JetProp DLX crash, according to JetProp.