Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pahokee, Florida 33476
Tuesady, May 31, 1994 12:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH WITH A SAFETY OBSERVER. HE STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT UNSUCCESSFULLY. HE THEN EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A LAKE. THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED AND THE RIGHT TANK HAD NO FUEL AND THE LEFT TANK HAD 18 GALLONS. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS DRIED AND THE ENGINE RAN ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT TANK SELECTOR POSITIONS WITH FUEL PROVIDED TO THE LINES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WHICH CAUSED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AT AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW FOR RESTART PROCEDURES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City PAHOKEE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33476
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 13
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 32
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 345
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 31 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1440
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N76GH
NTSB Number MIA94LA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 210L
Aircraft Series Identifier 210L
Aircraft Serial Number 61532
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 48
Airframe Hours 1868
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MERCY FLIGHT INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2316 BAYNARD BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City WILLMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19802
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MERCY FLIGHT INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2316 BAYNARD BLVD.
Operator City WILLMINGTON
Operator State DE
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 19802
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --