- Date
- June 19, 1994, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean)
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5333YPiper PA-23-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940619018789A
- Case key
- 37562
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
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain a visual outlook and a safe altitude while making a low pass over a boat, resulting in an in-flight collision with the boat mast.
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 commercial pilot was conducting an aerial observation flight over the Atlantic Ocean looking for Cuban rafters. A boat was spotted with people waving as if they needed assistance. The pilot elected to make a low pass and drop a radio to the boat so they could communicate. The pilot descended to about 20 feet and collided with a mast on the boat. The pilot diverted to an airport and landed without further incident.
Factual narrative
On June 19, 1994, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N5333Y, registered to C and I Flying Services, leased to Brothers to the Rescue, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 aerial observation flight, collided with a boat mast while maneuvering at a low altitude above the Atlantic Ocean. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Damage to the boat is unknown. The commercial pilot, and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Opa Locka, Florida, about 2 hours 10 minutes before the accident. The pilot diverted to Marathon, Florida, and landed without further incident. The accident was reported to the NTSB by a newspaper reporter 1 day after the accident.
The pilot stated they spotted a boat about 50 miles southeast of Marathon, Florida, with personnel waving at the airplane. He elected to make a low pass and drop a radio to the boat so they could communicate. He descended to about 20 feet and collided with a mast on the boat.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5333Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-23-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 27-2410
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-A1D5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Hermanos Al Rescate, doing business as Brothers To The Rscue
- Registered owner
- C & I Flying Services
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- OPF · Opa Locka, FL
- Destination
- MTH · Marathon, 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
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,046 total · 600 in this make and model · 1,889 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5333Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.