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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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October 14, 1993 · Piper PA-31 · N7079J

Hilo, HI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 14, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Hilo, HI
Aircraft
Piper PA-31
Tail Number
N7079J
Operator
Flight Contract Services
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX94LA012

DURING AN OCEANIC FERRY FLIGHT, THE RIGHT ENGINE DEVELOPED MAGNETO PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN ONLY RESIDUAL POWER BEING AVAILABLE. THE PIC INCREASED THE POWER ON THE REMAINING LEFT ENGINE, BUT IT SOON OVERHEATED. THE PIC ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. BOTH CREWMEMBERS WERE SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED.

NTSB Probable Cause

the failure of the right engine's magnetos for undetermined reasons and the resulting overtemperature of the remaining left engine.

Full Narrative

On October 13, 1993, at 1414 hours Hawaii standard time (HST), a Piper PA-31, N7079J, experienced a loss of power on both engines and ditched into the Pacific Ocean about 600 nautical miles south of Hilo, Hawaii. The pilots were conducting an instrument flight rules ferry flight to Santa Monica, California, with a planned scheduled fuel stop at Hilo, Hawaii. The airplane, owned by Kruger Aviation Inc., Santa Monica, California, and operated by Flight Contract Services, Yelm, Washington, was destroyed when it sunk into the ocean. Both certificated airline transport pilots received minor injuries. The flight originated at Tahiti and landed at Christmas Island on October 12, 1993; the flight departed Christmas Island on October 13, 1993, at 1036 hours. The pilot-in-command (PIC) reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that about 3.5 hours (1406 hours) after departing Christmas Island the right engine "started to fluctuate and developed only residual power." The PIC determined the engine problem was caused by the magnetos. The PIC increased the power to the left engine; however, it soon overheated. The PIC elected to ditch the airplane. The second pilot confirmed the PIC's statement in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he submitted. The accident coordinates are: 09 degrees, 36.18 minutes north latitude and 156 degrees, 23.82 minutes west longitude.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:14 HST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-31
Tail NumberN7079J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFlight Contract Services
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TSIO-540-A2B · Reciprocating · 310
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data