Piper PA-34-200 N1247T
17 February 1994 · Gulf of Mexico · No injuries
Summary
On 17 February 1994 at about 16:55 local time, a Piper PA-34-200 registered N1247T, operated by Rich, James Bell, was involved in an accident near Gulf of Mexico. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gulf of Mexico
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200
- Registration
- N1247T
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Rich, James Bell
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Springfield → Crossville
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA94LA076
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION (FAILURE TO REMAIN AWAKE) RESULTING IN EXTENDED FLIGHT OVER WATER FOLLOWED BY FUEL EXHAUSTION, TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND DITCHING BEFORE RETURNING TO LAND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT FELL ASLEEP WHILE ENROUTE FROM SPRINGFIELD, KY TO CROSSVILLE, TN WHEN HE AWOKE 5 HOURS LATER HE FOUND THAT HE WAS OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO, 210 MILES SOUTH OF PANAMA CITY, FL, AND HAD ONLY 20 MINUTES OF FUEL REMAING. HE DECLARED MAYDAY ON 121.5 AND WAS ASSISTED BY COAST GUARD AND AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT. THEY DIRECTED HIM TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, ST. PETERSBURG, FL WHILE ENROUTE TO THE AIRPORT THE ENGINES QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DITCHED, 70 MILES WEST OF ST. PETERSBURG. HE WAS RESCUED BY A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-34 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-34-200T | Lumberton, New Jersey, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-34-200 | Vacherie, Louisiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-34-200T | Dallas, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-34-200 | Marion, Iowa, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-34-200T | Salmon, Idaho, United States | Salmon Air Taxi | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Oct 1994 | Piper PA-34-220T | Palo Alto, California, United States | West Valley Flying Club | No injuries | - |