What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 04/18/06, N555DJ, a Piper navajo, departed on a VFR flight from st. croix to st. thomas at approximately 0800-0835 hours local time. While approaching the st. thomas airport, the pilot stated that the left engine, followed a short time later by the right engine, began surging. The pilot reported a loss of power on both engines to the control tower at st. thomas. The pilot stated that he was unable to reestablish normal operation of the engines, and that he could not maintain altitude. The aircraft landed in the water and sank shortly thereafter. All persons onboard were able to exit the aircraft. There were only minor injuries reported to two passengers.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 04/18/06, N555DJ, A PIPER NAVAJO, DEPARTED ON A VFR FLIGHT FROM ST. CROIX TO ST. THOMAS AT APPROXIMATELY 0800-0835 HOURS LOCAL TIME. WHILE APPROACHING THE ST. THOMAS AIRPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE, FOLLOWED A SHORT TIME LATER BY THE RIGHT ENGINE, BEGAN SURGING. THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF POWER ON BOTH ENGINES TO THE CONTROL TOWER AT ST. THOMAS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REESTABLISH NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ENGINES, AND THAT HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE WATER AND SANK SHORTLY THEREAFTER. ALL PERSONS ONBOARD WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WERE ONLY MINOR INJURIES REPORTED TO TWO PASSENGERS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.