- Date
- July 18, 1993, 20:31 local (Jul 19, 1993, 00:31 UTC)
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean)
- Injuries
- 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N99BWCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930718024349A
- Case key
- 37372
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was inaccurate fuel comsumption calculations by the pilot-in-command.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The flight departed with the left and right fuel quantity gauges indicating respectively, 8-10, and 4+ gallons. About 20 minutes into the flight, the engine experienced a loss of power. At that time the left and right fuel quantity gauges indicated respectively 8 gallons and nearly empty. While descending, engine power was restored. A climb was initiated but about 1 minute later, the engine lost power again. A descent was initiated and the airplane was ditched about 7 nautical miles east-southeast of the destination airport. The airplane was not recovered.
Factual narrative
On July 18, 1993, about 2031 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N99BW, registered to Fred Mullins, III, was ditched in the Atlantic Ocean about 7 nautical miles east-southeast of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was not recovered and is presumed to be destroyed. The commercial-rated pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and one rear seat passenger sustained minor injuries. One passenger was not injured. The flight originated about 2000 from Bimini, Bahamas.
According to the owner of the airplane, long range fuel tanks were installed which provides for 50 gallons of usable fuel. He also stated that the airplane was flown for 1.4 hours after the fuel tanks were filled. Five gallons of fuel were added and the airplane was then flown for 1.2 hours before the accident pilot rented the airplane on January 17, 1993.
The pilot stated that he preflighted the airplane which was flown for two flights which lasted according to the Hobbs meter, 3.7 hours. Twenty-four gallons of fuel were added and the airplane was then flown on one flight which lasted .7 hour. The following day, the airplane was flown for 1.9 hours and after landing, the left and right fuel quantity gauges indicated 8-10 and 4+ gallons respectively. The accident flight departed and about 15 to 20 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. At that time the right fuel gauge indicated 8 gallons and the left fuel gauge indicated nearly empty. Emergency procedures were executed and while descending at best glide airspeed, the engine power was restored. A climb was initiated and about 1 minute later, the engine lost power again. A descent at best glide airspeed was initiated and the airplane was ditched.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N99BW
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17273129
- Airframe hours
- 5,930
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mullins, Fred III
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 14, 1993 · 36 hours before
- Departed
- MYBS · Bimini, OF
- Destination
- FLL · Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,430 total · 200 in this make and model · 1,315 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FLL, 7 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.