# NTSB FTW94LA146: Piper PA-46-310P, N3648E, High Island 334, May 7, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 1994, 18:06 local (23:06 UTC) - Place: High Island 334 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19049/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA146 ## Probable cause A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH THE CAUSE UNDETERMINED. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS EN ROUTE AT 14,000 FEET MSL WHEN THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE DROPPED FROM 30 TO 18 INCHES. ELEVEN MINUTES LATER THE OIL LIGHT CAME 'ON'. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED UNDER PARTIAL POWER AT AN AIRSPEED OF 90 KNOTS, WHILE DESCENDING AT 100 TO 300 FEET PER MINUTE (FPM). BY 9,500 FEET MSL THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO NEAR A SHIP. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED AFLOAT FOR 5 TO 7 MINUTES. DURING THIS TIME, THE EMERGENCY EXIT WAS OPENED, ALL OCCUPANTS DONNED A LIFE VEST, EXITED, AND BOARDED THE LIFE RAFT, WHICH THE PILOT HAD DEPLOYED. ALL WERE RESCUED BY PERSONNEL FROM THE SHIP. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED; THEREFORE, THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 1994, at 1806 central daylight time, a Piper PA-46-310P, N3648E, was destroyed during a forced landing in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately one hundred and ten miles offshore from Houston, Texas. The airline transport pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The remaining two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight. During telephone interviews the pilot reported that the airplane was en route at 14,000 feet MSL on an IFR flight plan from Cozumel, Mexico, to Houston, Texas, when the manifold pressure dropped from 30 to 18 inches. Eleven minutes later, the pilot observed the oil light "ON". The airplane continued under partial power, at an airspeed of 90 knots, while descending at a rate of 300 fpm to 100 fpm. By 9,500 feet MSL the engine oil pressure dropped to zero and the propeller was windmilling. The pilot shut down the engine, and executed an emergency ditching near a ship. The pilot further reported that all checklist items except the master switch "OFF" was completed prior to the water ditching. The airplane remained afloat for five to seven minutes. During this time, the emergency exit was opened, all occupants donned life vests, exited, and boarded the life raft. Neither the owner nor pilot responded to numerous request for a completed Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The airplane was not recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3648E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3648E-2013-09-12), registration cancelled 2013-09-12, S/N 46-8408067, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-310P - Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46-8408067 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-BE1 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Martin, Adren & Cohen, Howard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 21, 1994 - Departed: MMCZ, COZUMEL,OF - Destination: HOU, HOUSTON, TX - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940507010269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940507010269A), May 7, 1994: Piper PA46310P, Houston, TX, Destroyed. In flight half manifold pressure. Descending oil went to zero. Shut down. Ditched. All rescued. Plane sank. 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.