# NTSB MIA95LA206: Beech 65, N5078C, Caribbean Sea, August 16, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1995, 07:20 local (11:20 UTC)
- Place: Caribbean Sea
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37817
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37817/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA206

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO FEATHER THE PROPELLER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - 1 engine
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Ditching, emergency landing

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE NOTED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER OF THE RIGHT ENGINE DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE ENGINE THEN LOST POWER, AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO FEATHER THE RIGHT PROPELLER. THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 75 MI SE OF ST. CROIX. AFTER EXITING THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT INFLATED A RAFT, AND WAS FOUND BY RESCUE PERSONNEL ABOUT 4 HRS LATER. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED.

## Factual narrative

On August 16, 1995, about 0720 Atlantic standard time, N5078C, a Beech BE-65 registered to and operated by Caribbean Food and Produce ditched in the Caribbean Sea while on a 14 CFR Part 91 cargo 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 pilot, the sole occupant, was located and rescued with minor injuries. The flight originated from St. Croix, Virgin Islands, about 45 minutes earlier.

The pilot was hauling company supplies and was en route to Canefield Airport, Dominica. He reported the No. 2 engine was running rough. The engine then failed and the pilot was not able to feather the propeller. He ditched the airplane about 75 miles southeast of St. Croix. After exiting the airplane he inflated a raft, and was located by rescue personnel about 4 hours later.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5078C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5078C-1997-03-10), registration cancelled 1997-03-10, S/N LF12 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 65
- Registry model: [Beech 65](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65) (registry code 1152802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LF-12
- Airframe hours: 11650
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-720-A1B 400 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Caribbean Food And Produce
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 2, 1995, 85 hours before
- Departed: STX, ST CROIX
- Destination: TDCF, CANEFIELD, DR, OF
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 950 in this make and model, 1,445 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STX, 75 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 19950816024179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950816024179A), Aug 16, 1995: Beech 65, Caribbean Sea, U.S. Virgin Islands, Destroyed. Ditched at sea 45 minutes out of virgin islands. Right engine failed. Unable feather or stay aloft. Inflated raft.

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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