Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marsh Harbor Burkina Faso
Sunday, December 6, 1998 9:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On December 6, 1998, about 0915 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N9471T, registered to Bug Air Transport Co., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed into a salt marsh 6 miles west of Marsh Harbor International Airport, Abaco, Bahamas, following a sudden engine stoppage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the ATP-rated pilot, the lone occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale International Airport, at about 0720. According to the pilot, while in descent for landing at Marsh Harbor, between 2,500 feet and 2,300 feet msl, the engine suddenly stopped. Following emergency procedures for an engine failure, he got the engine restarted momentarily, but it stopped again. He felt his only option was to try for a muddy area of the marsh, west of the airport. The airplane nosed over upon impact with the marsh. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Civil Aviation, Nassau, Bahamas. This report is filed for informational purposes only and contains that information released by the Bahamian authorities. For additional information contact: Director of Civil Aviation, Bahamas P. O. Box N-975 Nassau, N. P. Bahamas Phone: (242) 377-7117

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/6/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MARSH HARBOR
Event State --
Event Country BURKINA FASO
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 12
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 Unknown
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 900
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FPO
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 0
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 7 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9471T
NTSB Number MIA99WA042
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1724 S. W. 30 PL.
Operator City FT. LAUDERDALE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33301
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 FLL
Departure City FT. LAUDERDALE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MYAM
Destination City
Destination State OF
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 3 2001 9:58AM
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 --