20210122002309A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-301 · Marathon, FL · January 22, 2021

Date: January 22, 2021 · 16:20 local
Place: Marathon, FL
Airport: The Florida Keys Marathon Inte
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8224H
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA21LA123
Reported as: Piper PA-32-301
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0

N8224HRegistration cancelled Jun 6, 2023 · Piper PA-32-301S/N 32-8006060 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-301 Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The pilot was flying at 5500 ft mean sea level. After about 40 minutes into the flight the engine started spitting and sputtering and then it shut off. The other pilot attempted to restore engine power but could not get it started. The pilot declared an emergency with ATC and landed in the water.

The aircraft was unable to be recovered.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT WAS FLYING AT 5500 FT MEAN SEA LEVEL. AFTER ABOUT 40 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE STARTED SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND THEN IT SHUT OFF. THE OTHER PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE ENGINE POWER BUT COULD NOT GET IT STARTED. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH ATC AND LANDED IN THE WATER.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO BE RECOVERED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA21LA123Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHomestead, FLA total loss of power for reasons that could not be determined, as the airplane was not recovered from the water following the ditching.Jan 22, 2021 · Substantial damage