Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33315
Wednesday, March 9, 1983 12:46 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN FOLLOWING ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT ESTAMATED FUEL ON BOARD DURING PRE-FLIGHTFROM THE ELECTRONIC FUEL GAUGES. THE ACFT FLEW 2 HRS AND 16 MINUTES BEFORE THE ENGINES QUIT IN A MODE OF FUEL EXHAUSTIONWITH SURGING PRIOR TO STOPPING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION USING FUEL SLIPS REVEALED A FUEL BURN WITHIN 10 TO 15 GALS OF FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FUEL GAUGES FAILED ON THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT AND THE PASSENGERS STATED THE PILOT PAID A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THESE GAUGES. THE PILOT WANTED TO DIVERT TO FREEPORT BUT DID NOT BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS BELOW MINIMUMS. AFTER DITCHING THE ACFT SANK IN 800 FEET OF WATER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/9/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1246
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FT. LAUDERDALE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33315
Event Date Year 1983
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID FLL
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 333
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20681
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 N26506
NTSB Number MIA83LA090
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 402C
Aircraft Series Identifier 402C
Aircraft Serial Number 402CO340
Certified Max Gross Weight 6885
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 --
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Mar 8 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2051
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES G. CREAGH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2118 RIDGE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City MCKEES PORT
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15135
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AERO COACH AVIATION INT'L.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1624 S.W. 14TH COURT
Operator City FT. LAUDERDALE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33335
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MYAT
Departure City TREASURE CAY
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1140
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 10:36AM
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 --