# NTSB LAX93LA329: Piper PA-34-220, N1232H, Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), August 19, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 1993, 21:52 local (Aug 19, 1993, 04:52 UTC) - Place: Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean) - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA329 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28453/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA329 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE TO BOTH ENGINES 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 - 1 engine - lubricating system - undetermined (cause) - Loss of engine power, cruise - all engines - lubricating system - undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, descent - emergency ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A FERRY FLIGHT ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN FROM HONOLULU, HI, TO OAKLAND, CA. THE RIGHT ENGINE SUSTAINED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE. ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS, LATER, THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE OIL AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, THE OIL PRESSURE AND POWER BEGAN TO DECREASE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CRUISING ALTITUDE AND ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN NEXT TO A RESCUE VESSEL. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 1993, at 2152 hours Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Piper PA-34-220, N1232H, ditched into the Pacific Ocean about 480 miles southeast of San Francisco, California. The ditching was precipitated by a loss of power on the right engine. The pilot was conducting an instrument flight rules ferry flight to Oakland, California. The airplane, operated by Flight Contract Services, Inc., Yelm, Washington, was destroyed after it sunk. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In a statement to the Federal Aviation Administration, Honolulu Flight Standards District Office, the pilot reported that he departed Honolulu at 0808 hours PDT for a planned 14-hour flight to Oakland, California, at 8,000 feet mean sea level (msl). At 1830 hours, the right engine oil pressure dropped, together with a high oil and cylinder head temperature gauge reading. At 1906 hours, the pilot secured the engine and feathered the propeller and the left engine power was increased to 75%. Unable to maintain the cruising altitude, the pilot descended the airplane to 1,250 feet msl and the left engine instruments stabilized and appeared normal. At 2015 hours, oil stains began to appear on the right side of the engine cowl and then on the left flap. Shortly thereafter, the left engine oil pressure started falling. This drop in oil pressure was followed by a rise in the oil and cylinder temperature gauges. At 2045 hours, the power in the left engine diminished whereas the current altitude could not be maintained and a slow descent rate of 20 feet per minute initiated. The pilot reversed course toward the rescue ship. At 2100 hours, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue airplane intercepted the flight. At 2130 hours, the left engine oil pressure dropped to the "low side of the red line" and the engine began to run rough. The airplane's altitude was 650 feet msl. Upon reaching the rescue ship, the pilot flew around it one and a half times prior to ditching. At 100 feet msl, the pilot secured the left engine and feathered the propeller. After ditching, the pilot exited the airplane and inflated the life raft. The accident coordinates are: 33 degrees, 55 minutes north latitude and 134 degrees, 39 minutes west longitude. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1232H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1232H-1994-02-28), registration cancelled 1994-02-28, S/N 347770116 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-220 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7770116 - Airframe hours: 2400 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360 reciprocating; CONTINENTAL TSIO-360 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Contract Service - Registered owner: Bernhart Acft & Equip Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 1993, 30 hours before - Departed: HNL, HONOLULU, HI - Destination: OAK, OAKLAND, CA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,824 total, 89 in this make and model, 2,622 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 40° at 15 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft - Temperature: 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19930818029769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930818029769A), Aug 18, 1993: Piper PA34200, Pacific Ocean, CA, Destroyed. Report lost right engine lack oil pressure. Overheated right engine same. Ditched in Ocean. Lack proper nav radios. 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.