What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Lost power on photo flight along a beach. Ditched in ocean. Fuel tank empty had failed to stick tank. (-23) on 04/15/97 the aircraft and engine mechanical and flight systems were examined and revealed no malfunction, mechanical failure, or pre-crash damage. The fuel tank was sealed, had no evidence of ruptures or system malfunctions. There was no fuel remaining in the tank, revealing fuel depletion as the primary cause of the accident. Furthermore, the PIC advised the mechanic that he "ran it out of fuel."
As the FAA filed it
LOST POWER ON PHOTO FLIGHT ALONG A BEACH. DITCHED IN OCEAN. FUEL TANK EMPTY HAD FAILED TO STICK TANK. (-23) ON 04/15/97 THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE MECHANICAL AND FLIGHT SYSTEMS WERE EXAMINED AND REVEALED NO MALFUNCTION, MECHANICAL FAILURE, OR PRE-CRASH DAMAGE. THE FUEL TANK WAS SEALED, HAD NO EVIDENCE OF RUPTURES OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. THERE WAS NO FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK, REVEALING FUEL DEPLETION AS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, THE PIC ADVISED THE MECHANIC THAT HE "RAN IT OUT OF FUEL."
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N45NL · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.