Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Sunday, December 18, 2005 13:33 EST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The commercial pilot was on an instrument flight rules personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot reported a loss of engine power in instrument meteorological conditions to air traffic control. The controller vectored the flight for an instrument approach to the nearest airport, but the airplane was unable to reach the airport, and the pilot ditched in the ocean. The sole surviving occupant, who was seated behind the pilot, reported that the engine lost power, and the pilot restarted the engine, but it lost power again. She said she and the other passengers attempted to don life jackets as the pilot glided the airplane toward the water. She said when the airplane struck the water she was thrown into the rear baggage compartment where she escaped through a baggage door. She did not see any of the other occupants exit the airplane. Conditions in area of the ditching included a low overcast, and 7 to 10 foot swells. The airplane wreckage was located, and the pilot was recovered by divers. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was drowning. The airplane was not recovered, and has not been examined by the National Transportation Safety Board. Receipts revealed that the airplane was fueled prior to departure, and tests of the fuel supply did not reveal any anomalies. Records indicate the airplane annual inspection was timely, and no history of mechanical issues was discovered. An examination of the pilot's log books disclosed he was appropriately certificated and current.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an emergency descent and ditching. Factors contributing to the survivability of the accident were the low ceilings and rough water.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 12/18/2005 |
| Event Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Event | 1333 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Standard Time |
| Event City | St. Augustine |
| Event State | FLORIDA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 32084 |
| Event Date Year | 2005 |
| Event Date Month | 12 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 295819N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0811604W |
| 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 | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1330 Eastern Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 270 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KSGJ |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 10 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 1 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | EST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 500 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | -- |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Overcast |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 3 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 12 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 11 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 10 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 14 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 20 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.23 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 3 |
| Injury Total Minor | 1 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 4 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 22922 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Comm Center |
| NTSB Notification Date | Dec 18 2005 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jan 30 2008 4:08PM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Orlando, Florida |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N22L |
| NTSB Number | MIA06LA041 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | IFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Cessna |
| Aircraft Model | 195 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 7961 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 3350 |
| 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 | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Sep 1 2005 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 3706 |
| ELT Installed | -- |
| ELT Activated | -- |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | -- |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Gary E. Tillman |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | Rome |
| Aircraft Owner State | GA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 30161 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| 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? | -- |
| 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) | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | KCRG |
| Departure City | Jacksonville |
| Departure State | FL |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1315 |
| Departure Time Zone | EST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | KFPR |
| Destination City | Fort Pierce |
| Destination State | FL |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Landing - flare/touchdown |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 26 2007 5:27PM |
| User who most recently changed record | STAM |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | NA |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |