Piper PA-31 N36L

Summary

On 10 July 1993 at about 14:15 local time, a Piper PA-31 registered N36L, operated by Schaked Corp., was involved in an accident near Atlantic Ocean. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 July 1993 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlantic Ocean

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-31

Registration

N36L

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Schaked Corp.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cap Haitien → Great Inagua I.

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA93LA152

2 people had minor injuries.

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AFTER THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DELAY BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO EXECUTE THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE BY RESETTING THE ALTERNATORS AND VOLTAGE REGULATORS FOLLOWING TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH 1/2 FULL FUEL TANKS AND KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ABOUT 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED AND ABOUT 44 MINUTES LATER, GRAND TURK APPROACH CONTROL WAS CONTACTED USING A HAND HELD RADIO AND CLEARANCE TO LAND AT THE GRAND TURK AIRPORT WAS REQUESTED. THE CONTROLLER WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW ON FUEL. THE CREW WAS ADVISED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 60 MILES EAST OF THE GRAND TURK AIRPORT AND THAT THE PROVIDENCIALES AIRPORT WAS 31 MILES NORTH OF THEIR POSITION. THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED DIRECT TO THE PROVIDENCIALES AIRPORT BUT A SHORT TIME LATER, THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DITCHED AND THE OCCUPANTS WERE RESCUED. THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER STATED THAT THE PILOT RESET THE ALTERNATORS AND VOLTAGE REGULATORS AFTER CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.