# NTSB MIA85FA260: Cessna 402C, N402V, Fort Lauderdale, FL, September 23, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1985, 12:42 local (16:42 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.089483, -80.150421 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0895&lon=-80.1504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31267
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA260
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31267/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA260

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

PILOT DITCHED AIRCRAFT IN ATLANTIC OCEAN AFTER LOSING POWER IN BOTH ENGINES. THE THREE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED ININJURIED AND WERE PICKED UP BY A NEARBY BOAT. THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET OF WATER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER DITCHING. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF OPERATOR RECORDS ALONG WITH A STATEMENT FROM THE PREVIOUS PILOT WHO FLEW THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT APPROXIMATELY 26 POUNDS OF FUEL REMAINED ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE CESSNA 402C AIRCRAFT HAS AN UNUSABLE FUEL CAPACITY OF 44.4 POUNDS IN CRITICAL FLIGHT ATTITUDES AND THAT THIS FIGURE IS LOWER IN MORE NORMAL ATTITUDES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N402V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402C0337
- Airframe hours: 3338
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Gull Air, Inc., doing business as Gull Air
- Registered owner: Allan F. Jones
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 21, 1985, 5 hours before
- Departed: MYGF, FREEPORT, OF
- Destination: FLL, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,435 total, 3,100 in this make and model, 6,328 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLL, 6 nm away

## 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 19850923066159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850923066159A), Sep 23, 1985: Cessna 402C, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Destroyed. Insufficient fuel for trip according to calculations. Right engine quit,left engine surging during ditching.

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.

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