Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlantic Ocean
Tuesady, May 22, 1984 18:51 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT WAS ON THE 3RD LEG OF A SOLO, X-COUNTRY FLT. ON THE 2ND LEG, HE ASKED FOR A DF STEER TO REACH THE ARPT. DURING LUNCH, HE DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR, WHO WAS AT THE ARPT WITH ANOTHER STUDENT. THE SOLO STUDENT DEPARTED AT 1455 EDT, EN ROUTE FROM VERO BEACH TO OPA-LOCKA. AT ABOUT 1620, HE CALLED PALM BEACH TOWER TO REPORT THAT HE WAS LOST OVER WATER. FOR AN HOUR & A HALF, GROUND & AIR PARTIES TRIED TO LOCATE HIM, BUT THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AT ABOUT 1847, THE PLT STATED ON THE RADIO THAT HE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL & WAS DITCHING. AT ABOUT 1851, A BRITISH AIRCREW MADE CONTACT WITH THE PLT WHO STATED THAT HE WAS IN THE WATER & ASKED WHAT HE SHOULD DO. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO EXIT THE ACFT & USE THE SEAT CUSHI0NS FOR FLOTATION. NO FURTHER CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED. THE SEARCH WAS SUSPENDED ON 5/27/84. THE PLT INJURY & ACFT DAMAGE ARE PRESUMED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/1984
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1851
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ATLANTIC OCEAN
Event State ATLANTIC OCEAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1984
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MIA
Elevation of weather observation facility 10
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 Moderate
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) 831
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 24547
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N68760
NTSB Number MIA84FA169
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 In-flight
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15282361
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 8 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIRWAY CHARTERS LTD INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BLDG 209 - MUSICK RD
Aircraft Owner City OPA-LOCKS
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33054
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code VRB
Departure City VERO BEACH
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1455
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OPF
Destination City OPA-LOCKA
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --