# NTSB MIA96LA060: Cessna 172N, N800PB, Lantana, FL, January 8, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 8, 1996, 14:07 local (19:07 UTC)
- Place: Lantana, FL
- Location: 26.5834° N, 80.0554° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lantana, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5834&lon=-80.0554&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37968/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA060

## Probable cause

Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, while over water, which resulted in a forced landing/ditching at sea.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- Ditching, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - water (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot was on an overwater flight from the Bahama Islands to West Palm Beach, Florida. He stated that the engine lost power, and he could not get the airplane to glide to land. He ditched the airplane in the ocean about 1 mile from land.  He and the passenger were rescued by the Coast Guard. The airplane sank and was not recovered.

## Factual narrative

On January 8, 1996, about 1407 eastern standard time, N800PB, a Cessna 172N, ditched in the water 1 mile from the shore of Lantana, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and passenger reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Mosstown, Bahamas, about 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.

The pilot radioed controllers on duty at West Palm Beach, Florida, that he had experienced a loss of power and he could not glide to land. The pilot ditched the airplane and the United States Coast Guard rescued the pilot and passenger. The airplane sank and has not been recovered.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N800PB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N800PB-1997-03-20), registration cancelled 1997-03-20, S/N 17269519 (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: 172-69519
- Airframe hours: 8055
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pb Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 1995, 100 hours before
- Departed: MYEF, MOSSTOWN, OF
- Destination: PBI, WEST PALM BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,250 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI

## 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 19960108000309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960108000309A), Jan 8, 1996: Cessna 172N, West Palm Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power approaching shore after three and half hrs flight from Bahamas. Ditched. Aircraft not recovered.

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.