What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On July 20, 2003, at approximately 2100 eastern standard time, a Cessna aircraft, CE-T210N, N155RR, was observed ditching into the peconic bay 150 yards off shore 5 nautical miles northeast of francis s. gabreski airport (kfok) east long island, new york. Pilot stated that after takeoff from east hampton airport (khto), he leveled off at 2000 feet MSL when suddenly autopilot disengaged and fuel flow meter indicated loss of power. He started the trouble shooting procedure and radioed new york approach. Shortly after, he lost power and ditched in peconic bay. Aircraft received substantial damage to right horizontal stabilizer after impact. Pilot, four passengers, and one dog escaped. One passenger received minor injury. The company director of maintenance reported that the powerplant was replaced recently.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JULY 20, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA AIRCRAFT, CE-T210N, N155RR, WAS OBSERVED DITCHING INTO THE PECONIC BAY 150 YARDS OFF SHORE 5 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHEAST OF FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIRPORT (KFOK) EAST LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF FROM EAST HAMPTON AIRPORT (KHTO), HE LEVELED OFF AT 2000 FEET MSL WHEN SUDDENLY AUTOPILOT DISENGAGED AND FUEL FLOW METER INDICATED LOSS OF POWER. HE STARTED THE TROUBLE SHOOTING PROCEDURE AND RADIOED NEW YORK APPROACH. SHORTLY AFTER, HE LOST POWER AND DITCHED IN PECONIC BAY. AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AFTER IMPACT. PILOT, FOUR PASSENGERS, AND ONE DOG ESCAPED. ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURY. THE COMPANY DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE REPORTED THAT THE POWERPLANT WAS REPLACED RECENTLY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.