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NTSB Report
September 23, 1985 · Cessna 402C · N402V
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 23, 1985
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 402C
Tail Number
N402V
Operator
Gull Air
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA85FA260
PILOT DITCHED AIRCRAFT IN ATLANTIC OCEAN AFTER LOSING POWER IN BOTH ENGINES. THE THREE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED ININJURIED AND WERE PICKED UP BY A NEARBY BOAT. THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET OF WATER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER DITCHING. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF OPERATOR RECORDS ALONG WITH A STATEMENT FROM THE PREVIOUS PILOT WHO FLEW THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT APPROXIMATELY 26 POUNDS OF FUEL REMAINED ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE CESSNA 402C AIRCRAFT HAS AN UNUSABLE FUEL CAPACITY OF 44.4 POUNDS IN CRITICAL FLIGHT ATTITUDES AND THAT THIS FIGURE IS LOWER IN MORE NORMAL ATTITUDES.
Full Narrative
PILOT DITCHED AIRCRAFT IN ATLANTIC OCEAN AFTER LOSING POWER IN BOTH ENGINES. THE THREE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED ININJURIED AND WERE PICKED UP BY A NEARBY BOAT. THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET OF WATER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER DITCHING. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF OPERATOR RECORDS ALONG WITH A STATEMENT FROM THE PREVIOUS PILOT WHO FLEW THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT APPROXIMATELY 26 POUNDS OF FUEL REMAINED ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE CESSNA 402C AIRCRAFT HAS AN UNUSABLE FUEL CAPACITY OF 44.4 POUNDS IN CRITICAL FLIGHT ATTITUDES AND THAT THIS FIGURE IS LOWER IN MORE NORMAL ATTITUDES.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:42 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 402C
Tail NumberN402V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGull Air
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-VB · Reciprocating · 325
Seats10
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 29 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC