Palm Beach International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlantic Ocean
Sunday, July 24, 1994 15:07 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT SMOKE AND HEAT STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, FOLLOWED BY FAILURE OF THE COMMUNICATION RADIOS. HE THEN TURNED OFF THE MASTER BATTERY SWITCH AND SMOKE 'POURED' OUT FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE NEAR A BOAT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1507
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ATLANTIC OCEAN
Event State ATLANTIC OCEAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PBI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 23
Degrees magnetic from airport 59
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 239
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 591
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1650
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N63317
NTSB Number MIA94LA182
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Smith, Ted Aerostar
Aircraft Model AEROSTAR 601
Aircraft Series Identifier AEROSTAR 6
Aircraft Serial Number 61-0054-103
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 28 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ISLAND AIR EXPORTS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13164 SILVER FOX TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City PALM BCH GRDN
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33418
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PBI
Departure City WEST PALM BCH
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1458
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYA
Destination City WALKER CAY
Destination State OF
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:44AM
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 --