# NTSB ATL01LA085: Cessna 172M, N13237, Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), July 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2001, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean) - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Miami FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52840 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52840/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA085 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis A Cessna 172, was ditched off the coast of Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island, after a partial loss of engine power. The flight departed Fort Lauderdale Executive, Florida. According to the pilot, while making a descent from 5500 feet to 4500 feet, the engine began to lose power. The pilot began the necessary emergency procedures to regain full power of the engine. The engine never regained full power, and he elected to ditch in the ocean. The airplane was not recovered from the ocean for examination. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2001,at 1700 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N13237, registered to a private owner, ditched off the coast of Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island, after a loss of engine power. The ferry flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual weather conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 1600. According to the pilot, while making a descent from 5500 feet to 4500 feet, the engine began to lose power. He and the co-pilot began the necessary procedures to regain full power of the engine, the engine never regained full power. The pilot and the co-pilot put on their life vests and ditched the airplane about 15 miles off the coast of Freeport Bahamas, in approximately 150 feet of water. The airplane was not recovered from the ocean for examination. According to the pilot, another pilot reported a previous engine problem with the accident airplane. Reportedly, when the throttle was retarded for a descent, the engine lost power. When the pilot advanced the throttle within one inch of the full-throttle position, engine power was regained. According to the pilot no report of the previous engine problem was made. The pilot also stated that he did not experience a problem with the airplane during his flight to Freeport, Bahamas. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13237](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13237-2014-09-03), registration cancelled 2014-09-03, S/N 17262598, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17262598 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Taylor - Registered owner: Yvonne C. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Destination: MYGF, FREEPORT - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 11,838 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 11,759 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: MYGF, 7 nm away ## Other investigations on N13237 (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 MIA75DLG24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA75DLG24), Feb 22, 1975: Cessna 172 (N13237), Hilton Head, SC, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.