- Date
- November 9, 1995, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC)
- Place
- Marco Island, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N970ACPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951109041829A
- Case key
- 37941
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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. The lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing was a factor.
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 pilot stated that as he was approaching his destination airport the power smoothly decreased to idle power. He initiated a forced landing to the water and the right wing was damaged as the airplane touched down in about 2 feet of water. Post accident inspection revealed no failures nor malfuntions that would have caused the loss of power.
Factual narrative
On November 9, 1995, about 0850 eastern standard time, N970AC, a Piper PA-28-161 registered to Naples Air Center collided with water near Marco Island, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from Naples, Florida, about 20 minutes earlier.
The pilot stated that as he was approaching Marco Island Airport the power smoothly decreased to idle power. He initiated a forced landing to the water and the right wing was damaged as the airplane touched down in about 2 feet of water.
A postaccident inspection found no failures nor malfunctions of the carburetor, magnetos, gears, cams, oil filter, and other engine parts. All parts that were inspected were first dried then tested. The reason for the reported power loss was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N970AC
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8216203
- Airframe hours
- 9,585
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D36, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John F. Mcguire Jr
- Registered owner
- Naples Air Center
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 24, 1995 · 46 hours before
- Departed
- APF · Naples, FL
- Destination
- MKY · FL
- Airport
- MKY · Marco Island Airport
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
- 73
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 288 total · 162 in this make and model · 158 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- APF, 21 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.