Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Punta Gorda Bahrain
Saturday, March 20, 2004 11:59 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On March 20, 2004, about 1159 center standard time, a Cessna C208B, V3-HGB, of Belize registration and operated by Tropical Air Limited, a commercial airlines, in a repositioning flight, experienced a loss of engine power and ditched about 2 miles off the shores of Punta Gorda airstrip, Belize. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and flight plan information is not known. The commercial- rated pilot, the sole occupant, received no injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time. Information from Tropical Air Limited states, 5 minutes into the flight to Placencia airstrip at 1,500 feet the pilot reported he experienced a loss of engine power and the airplane could not maintain altitude. The pilot ditched the airplane in the sea near the shore. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Belize. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Department of Civil Aviation P. O. Box 367 Belize City, Belize Fax: 011-501-225-2533 This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information obtained for or released by the Government of the Belize.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/20/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1159
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Punta Gorda
Event State --
Event Country BAHRAIN
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 160703N
Event Location Longitude 0884607W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MZBZ
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height 30000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source Belize Civil Aviation
NTSB Notification Date Mar 25 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1534
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 1:31PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Miami International

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number MIA04WA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model C208B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
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? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address --
Operator City San Perdo
Operator State --
Operator Country BH
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PND
Departure City Punta Gorda
Departure State --
Departure Country --
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PLJ
Destination City Placencia
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 1:31PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --