Fatigue may have been behind the fatal April 4 crash in Florida that killed two people – but not pilot fatigue.
An investigative update issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that “fracture features” consistent with metal fatigue were found on more than 80 percent of the lower spar cap and portions of the forward and aft spar web doublers of the left wing main spar on the Piper PA-28R-201. The fatigue features originated at or near the outboard forward wing spar attachment bolt hole.