Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pacific Ocean, --
Friday, June 9, 2006 1:53 UTC

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On June 9, 2006, about 0153 universal coordinated time (UTC), a Piper PA-44-180, Australian registry VH-CZE, ditched about 500 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, in international waters of the Pacific Ocean. Airflite PTY LTD was operating the airplane under the provisions of the Australian Civil Aviation Regulations. The two pilots were not injured; the airplane was destroyed. The international trans-Pacific ferry flight departed Santa Barbara, California, en route to Hilo. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The ditching occurred at 25 degrees 3.0 minutes north latitude and 147 degrees 26 minutes west longitude. Preliminary information indicated that one engine lost power. The accident is under the jurisdiction of and is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Further information can be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau 15 Mort Street, Braddon ACT 2612, Australia P.O. Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2608, Australia Phone +61 2 6274 6464 Fax +61 2 6274 6699 Web site www.atsb.gov.au This report is for information purposes only, and contains only information obtained for, or released by, the Government of Australia.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/9/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 153
Event Time Zone Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Event City Pacific Ocean
Event State PACIFIC OCEAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 230500N
Event Location Longitude 1472600W
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 Witness
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 8 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 27 2006 5:09PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration SFO International

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number LAX06WA202
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-44-180
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 --
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SBA
Departure City Santa Barbara
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1327
Departure Time Zone UTC
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ITO
Destination City Hilo
Destination State HI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise - normal
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 27 2006 5:09PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight --
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --