Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlantic Ocean
Thursday, March 9, 1989 3:21 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FLIGHT FROM GANDER, NEWFOUNDLAND TO SHANNON, IRELAND WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED AN ENGINE FAILURE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. ANOTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT APPEAR TO GET INTO HIS SURVIVAL SUIT. THE WIND WAS 35-40 MPH, AND THE WAVE HEIGHTS 25-32 FT. THE PILOT WAS NOT FOUND, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PILOT HAD RADIOED THAT HIS AIRCRAFT THROTTLE CABLE HAD STUCK. IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE PILOT GOT INTO HIS AIRPLANE WITHOUT SUMPING THE TANKS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS RESULTING IN A DITCHING IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. HIGH SEAS MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM GETTING INTO HIS SURVIVAL SUIT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/9/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 321
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ATLANTIC OCEAN
Event State ATLANTIC OCEAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 3
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 40
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1674
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 9 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41017
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:32PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N734QR
NTSB Number NYC89FAMS3
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model P210N
Aircraft Series Identifier P210N
Aircraft Serial Number P21DD8611
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/Foreign Oper.
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 2 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 1296
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TIM MCCANDLESS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2720 AIRPORT BLVD
Aircraft Owner City WATERLOO
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50703
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DONALD LEONARD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 783 KENNEDY STRRET
Operator City INDIANOLA
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 50125
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code YOX
Departure City GANDER, NFLD
Departure State CD
Departure Country
Departure Time 100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City SHANNON,IRELAND
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --