N14131

On August 3, 1999, about 0930 eastern daylight time, a William J. Kinney/Challenger II, N14131, registered to, and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on Kreamer Island in Lake Okeechobee, shortly after takeoff from Palm Beach County Glades Airport, Pahokee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private-rated pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that he had just taken off from runway 35, made a left crosswind turn and was at about 500 feet on a southerly heading, when the engine to propeller drive belt broke. He executed a forced landing on Kreamer Island. The aircraft received substantial damage to the undercarriage, wings and wing struts.

FAA inspectors conducted a postcrash examination of the airplane and noted that the engine to propeller drive belt was missing. The inspectors stated that it appeared that the missing belt was the reason the engine stopped in flight. The belt was not recovered, and the cause of the failure could not be determined.