20050507010829A

(-23) Aircraft was preflighted prior to planned 1430EDT departure. Pilot stated that he had 30 gals of fuel during preflight. Pilot received weather briefing from flight service. Winds from marsh harbor Bahamas to Fort Pierce, FL were estimated to be 060/09 KTS between 6,000FT/9,000FT. Straight line distance between marsh harbor, bi and Fort Pierce, FL is 185.6 NM. Pilot filed a VFR flight plan from marsh barbor direct to Fort Pierce, FL. Pilot stated that he departed marsh harbor, as planned, at approximately 1430 EDT. Pilot stated that he encountered stornger than forecast winds after departure from marsh harbor, bi. Pilot stated that he contacted flight service and advised them that he was encountering stronger than forecast winds. The pilot stated that he was advised by flight service that the winds should be dropping off soon. The pilot continued the flight to Fort Pierce, FL even though the winds were stronger than forecast with the hope that the winds would drop off soon. Because of the pilot's limited flight experience, he continued the flight past the point where diverting for fuel was not an option. The pilot exhausted fuel supply and the engine stopped running approximately 10 miles before reaching his destination of Fort Pierce, FL. The pilot successfully ditched his aircraft in the atlantic ocean approximately 4 miles from the Fort Pierce, FL airport at approximately 1651 EDT. The pilot and his passenger (wife) safely egressed the aircraft with only minor injuries. The coast guard safely rescued both the pilot and his passenger. The aircraft sank in the atlantic ocean and was not recovered. The pilot was counseled by me, a pilot with extensive overwater experience, about how to properly flight plan and conduct an overwater flight.