# NTSB MIA93LA158: Cessna 172N, N99BW, Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), July 19, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1993, 20:31 local (Jul 19, 1993, 00:31 UTC) - Place: Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean) - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37372 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37372/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA158 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99BW-1993-09-11), registration cancelled 1993-09-11, S/N 17273129 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273129 - Airframe hours: 5930 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930718024349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930718024349A), Jul 18, 1993: Cessna 172N, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Destroyed. Lost power returning from bimini Bahamas. Ditched in ocean. Possible fuel exhaustion. Relied on gauges. Left empty. 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.