Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Savannah, Georgia 31409
Monday, January 26, 1987 12:31 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS FLYING A DONATED AIRCRAFT IN SUPPORT OF A PROGRAM TO DOCUMENT THE ACTIVITIES OF WRIGHT WHALES OFF THE COAST OF THE CAROLINA'S AND GEORGIA. THE PLT HAD BEEN WITH THE OWNER ON A PREVIOUS FLT, WHEN PROBLEMS DEVELOPED WHILE SWITCHING TO/AND/OR FROM THE AUX FUEL TANKS TO THE MAIN FUEL TANKS. THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTED REPAIR OR TROUBLE SHOOTING CONDUCTED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. ON THIS FLIGHT THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH FUEL IN THE AUX TANKS AND SWITCHED TO THE AUX TANKS WHILE ABOUT 20 MILES OFF SHORE AND FLEW SEVERAL LEGS OF THE SEARCH PATTERN. THE ENG QUIT. HE STARTED TOWARD THE SHORE AND THEN SWITCHED THE FRONT ENG TO THE MAIN FUEL TANK, IT QUIT ALSO. THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AND SANK ABOUT TWO MINUTES AFTER IMPACT. IT WAS NOT RECOVERED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/26/1987
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1231
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SAVANNAH
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31409
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 1
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID SAV
Elevation of weather observation facility 51
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 474
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 26 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1508
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33633
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:34PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10MM
NTSB Number ATL87LA066
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 337D
Aircraft Series Identifier 337D
Aircraft Serial Number 3370986
Certified Max Gross Weight 4400
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 5
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 8 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 573
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PHILLIP D TEDRICK
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 4 BOX 790
Aircraft Owner City CALLAHAM
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32011
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name P. D. TEDRICK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT. 4, BOX 790
Operator City CALLAHAN
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32011
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 55J
Departure City FERNANDINA BCH
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1031
Departure Time Zone EST
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 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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --