# NTSB MIA95LA215: Beech E-18S, N171LG, Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), August 28, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1995, 13:31 local (17:31 UTC) - Place: Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean) - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37820 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37820/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA215 ## Probable cause UNDETERMINED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis WHILE ENROUTE AT 6,000 FEET, 46 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT CONTACTED THE FAA MIAMI FLIGHT SERVICE STATION AND RECEIVED THE CURRENT WEATHER RADAR DATA FOR HIS DESTINATION. THE PILOT THEN REPORTED HE HAD AN EMERGENCY. WHEN THE CONTROLLER REQUESTED THE NATURE OF THE EMERGENCY, THE PILOT STATED FIRE ONBOARD. NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE PILOT AND ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE PILOT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. DEBRIS FROM THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED FLOATING ON THE OCEAN. NONE OF THE DEBRIS HAD FIRE DAMAGE. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS NOT LOCATED AND RECOVERED. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 1995, about 1331 eastern daylight time, a Beech E-18S, N171LG, registered to Caribbean Leasing Company, and operated by Avmac Air, Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 135 nonscheduled international cargo flight, from Orlando, Florida, to Freeport, Bahamas, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, about 45 miles northwest of Freeport. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed. The airline transport-rated pilot has not been located and is presumed to have been fatally injured. The flight originated from Orlando, on August 28, 1995, about 1229. A person identifying himself as the pilot of N171LG contacted the FAA Miami Flight Service Station by radio at 1328:33. The pilot reported he was 46 miles northwest of Freeport and requested information on the weather at Freeport. The pilot was given the weather. At 1330:15 the pilot reported he had an emergency. The controller asked what is the emergency and the pilot reported "fire onboard." No further transmissions from the flight were received and attempts to contact the flight were unsuccessful. See the transcript of communications. Search and rescue efforts were initiated and at 1600, a oil slick, the left main landing gear from N171LG, and personal effects of the pilot and debris from the cabin contents were found floating on the ocean surface, 40 miles northwest of Freeport. Examination of the recovered debris showed no evidence of fire damage. The main wreckage of N171LG was not located and recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N171LG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N171LG-2013-06-12), registration cancelled 2013-06-12, S/N BA-427, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E-18S - Registry model: [Beech E18S-9700](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s-9700) (registry code 1151008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA427 - Airframe hours: 9497 - Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Avmac Air, Inc. - Registered owner: Caribbean Leasing Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 27, 1994, 40 hours before - Departed: ORL, ORLANDO, FL - Destination: MYGF, FREEPORT, OF - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 175 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots - Visibility: 1.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MYG, 40 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 19950828030489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950828030489A), Aug 28, 1995: Beech E18S, Freeport, Bahamas, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Inbound to Bahamas declared fire emergency. Debris found. No indication of fire. Main wreckage, pilot not found. 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.