Beechcraft 35 N3187V

Summary

On 16 September 2017 at about 12:55 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N3187V was involved in an accident near Marathon, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 2017 at 12:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Marathon, Florida, United States

Coordinates

24.7256, -81.2289

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N3187V

Category

Airplane

Year built

1947

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Lauderdale → Fort Lauderdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17LA347

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because saltwater corrosion precluded a complete examination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot fueled the airplane to capacity before departing on a local photography flight. About 1 hour after departing, the pilot was climbing the airplane to cruise altitude for the return to the departure airport. About 800 to 1,000 ft above mean sea level, the airplane experienced a sudden, total loss of engine power over open water and beyond gliding distance to shore. The pilot prepared to ditch and attempted five engine restarts without success. The propeller continued to windmill as the airplane landed upright, but subsequently sank in about 12 ft of saltwater. The airplane was recovered 12 days later and a fuel sheen was observed in the area. The wreckage was examined following recovery and the engine crankshaft could not be rotated due to saltwater corrosion. Examination of the engine-driven fuel pump revealed that the drive shaft remained intact and could be actuated by hand with no anomalies noted. The engine and its ignition and induction systems could not be thoroughly examined or tested due to extensive saltwater corrosion; therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.