# Accident 20020101005349A: Piper PA31350, Ft Lauderdale, FL, January 1, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 1, 2002, 18:02 local time
- Place: Ft Lauderdale, FL
- Airport: Ft Lauderdale-Hollywood International
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: X17A
- Location: 26.0628° N, 80.1089° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0628&lon=-80.1089&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3525Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3525Y-2015-05-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02FA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020101005349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON JANUARY 1, 2002, ABOUT 1802 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-31-250, REGISTERED TO, AND OPERATED BY AIR TAXI INC., AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 135 ON DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT, DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN NEAR HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT, AND 3 PASSENGERS RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM NORTH ELEUTHERA ISLAND, IN THE BAHAMAS, THE SAME DAY, ABOUT 1635. ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL WITH THE FAA FORT LAUDERDALE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER (ATCT), THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT HAD INITIALLY DECLARED "MINIMUM FUEL" TO AN FAA MIAMI AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC) CONTROLLER, AND AFTER RECEIVING A COMMUNICATIONS HAND OFF TO THE CONTROL TOWER CONTROLLER HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, STATING THAT HE HAD A MINIMUM FUEL SITUATION, AND WILL BE DITCHING THE AIRCRAFT SHORT OF THE SHORELINE. THE AIRCRAFT DITCHED ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM THE DANIA BEACH SHORELINE, IN ABOUT 15 FEET OF WATER.                                                                                    (-23) ON 01/02/02, ABOUT 1802 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, PIPER PA-31-250, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY AIR TAXI, INC., AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 135 ON DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT, DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN NEAR HOLLYWOOD, FL. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT, AND 3 PASSENGERS RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND 1 PASSENGER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE A/C INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM NORTH ELEUTHERAL ISLAND, IN THE BAHAMAS THE SAME DAY, ABOUT 1635. ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL WITH THE FAA FT. LAUDERDALE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER (ATCT), THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT A/C HAD INITIALLY DECLARED "MINIMUM FUEL" TO AN FAA MIAMI AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC) CONTROLLER AND AFTER RECEIVING A COMMUNICATIONS HAND OFF TO THE CONTROL TOWER CONTROLLER HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, STATING THAT HE HAD A MINIMUM FUEL SITUATION AND WILL BE DITCHING THE A/C SHORT OF THE SHORELINE. THE A/C DITCHED ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM THE DANIA BEACH SHORELINE INABOUT 15 FEET OF WATER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA02FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02FA048), Jan 1, 2002: Piper PA-31-350 (N3525Y), Hollywood, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate planning for a Title 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight, and his failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion while en route over the Atlantic…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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