# NTSB MIA88LA069: Piper PA-23-250, N5433Y, Marathon, FL, December 23, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 1987, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Marathon, FL
- Location: 24.7323° N, 81.0251° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Marathon, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.7323&lon=-81.0251&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32115
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88LA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32115/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA069

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing

## Analysis

U.S. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THEY WERE OUT OF FUEL AND WERE DITCHING APPROXIMATELY 110 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MARATHON FL. THE PILOTS WERE PICKED UP BY THE COAST GUARD AND WERE TRANSPORTED BACK TO MIAMI.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5433Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5433Y-1988-01-26), registration cancelled 1988-01-26, S/N 27-2510, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-2510
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: International Air Serv. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MKJM, MONTEGO BAY, OF
- Destination: MYAF, ANDROS ISLAND, OF

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EYW, 100 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 19871223081769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871223081769A), Dec 23, 1987: Piper PA23250, Marathon, FL, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel and ditched in the atlantic ocean southeast of Marathon, FL.

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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