What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On June 24, 2000, at 0815 EDT, Cessna 172N, N738WD ditched into the atlantic Ocean 35 miles east of ft lauderdale, FL. A/c operated under part 91 with VFR. No flight plan was filed. The pilot and three passengers were not injured and the a/c sunk to 1,000 ft of water. According to the pilot, the airplane was fueled prior to departing the grand Bahamas, after takeoff the pilot climbed 6500 ft approx 30 minutes into the flight the pilot then descended to 2500 ft. when the pilot applied throttle following the descent, there was no engine response. The engine remained in idle and the pilot ditched the airplane near a commercial boat. All four occupants were rescued without injuries. (.4)according to the pilot, on the day before the accident, the airplane was fueled with 10 gallons of fuel. He stated that this gave the airplane a total of 25 gallons prior to departing the grand Bahamas. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to a cruise altitude of 6500 feet. Approximately 42 nautical miles off freeport, he began an initial descent to 4,500 feet, then 3,500 feet. When the pilot applied throttle following the descent, there was no e ngine response. The engine remained at idle and the pilot ditch the airplane near a commerical boat. All four occupants were rescued without injuries. The airplane was not recovered, and therefore the engine was not examined. Weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice, and carburetor heat was not used during the descent.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JUNE 24, 2000, AT 0815 EDT, CESSNA 172N, N738WD DITCHED INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN 35 MILES EAST OF FT LAUDERDALE, FL. A/C OPERATED UNDER PART 91 WITH VFR. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED AND THE A/C SUNK TO 1,000 FT OF WATER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE GRAND BAHAMAS, AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT CLIMBED 6500 FT APPROX 30 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE PILOT THEN DESCENDED TO 2500 FT. WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED THROTTLE FOLLOWING THE DESCENT, THERE WAS NO ENGINE RESPONSE. THE ENGINE REMAINED IN IDLE AND THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE NEAR A COMMERCIAL BOAT. ALL FOUR OCCUPANTS WERE RESCUED WITHOUT INJURIES. (.4)ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ON THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED WITH 10 GALLONS OF FUEL. HE STATED THAT THIS GAVE THE AIRPLANE A TOTAL OF 25 GALLONS PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE GRAND BAHAMAS. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT CLIMBED TO A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 6500 FEET. APPROXIMATELY 42 NAUTICAL MILES OFF FREEPORT, HE BEGAN AN INITIAL DESCENT TO 4,500 FEET, THEN 3,500 FEET. WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED THROTTLE FOLLOWING THE DESCENT, THERE WAS NO E NGINE RESPONSE. THE ENGINE REMAINED AT IDLE AND THE PILOT DITCH THE AIRPLANE NEAR A COMMERICAL BOAT. ALL FOUR OCCUPANTS WERE RESCUED WITHOUT INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED, AND THEREFORE THE ENGINE WAS NOT EXAMINED. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE, AND CARBURETOR HEAT WAS NOT USED DURING THE DESCENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.