Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Friday, October 7, 2011 17:23 HDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the engine lost power about 12 miles from the airport due to fuel exhaustion, and he ditched the airplane in the Pacific Ocean. The pilot had completed a preflight inspection for the transpacific flight and departed with approximately 393 gallons of fuel, which he calculated to be about 14 hours of fuel endurance. He reported that about 9 hours after takeoff he determined that, due to a change in the wind velocity, he would not reach his destination. He attempted to extend his range by reducing the airplane’s fuel consumption, but was unable to reach the airport. The pilot was rescued, and the airplane sank shortly thereafter. The total duration of the flight was about 13 hours.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s improper fuel planning.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/7/2011
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1723
Event Time Zone Hawaii Daylight Time
Event City Hilo
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96720
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 194725N
Event Location Longitude 1545513W
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 1900 Hawaii Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 35
Weather Observation Facility ID ITO
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation HST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29272
NTSB Notification Source FAA WP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2011 11:46AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N23BT
NTSB Number WPR12CA004
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 T310R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 310R1303
Certified Max Gross Weight 7150
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 10 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 3894
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name American King Air
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Wilmington
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name American King Air
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Wilmington
Operator State DE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 19810
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MRY
Departure City Monterey
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 738
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 21 2011 3:28PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --