Cessna 172M accident near South Bimini, Bs, December 22, 2014
On December 22, 2014 at about 4:50 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 172M, registered N12182, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near South Bimini (South Bimini Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, which resulted in a subsequent ditching in the ocean.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 2014 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- South Bimini, Bahamas · South Bimini Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M, built 1973 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12182 · no longer on the register · serial 17261866
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was conducting a personal overwater flight. The pilot reported that, while the airplane was in cruise flight at 10,500 ft mean sea level, the engine lost total power. The pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and he subsequently ditched the airplane in the ocean about 5 miles from the nearest land mass. Search and rescue efforts were delayed about 2 hours after the airplane was reported overdue because air traffic control tower personnel erroneously reported that the airplane had arrived. The pilot, who was rescued about 3.5 hours after the ditching, sustained minor injuries. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Recovery personnel reported that the fuel tanks were unbreached and that an undetermined amount of fluid consistent with aviation gasoline was in the fuel tanks. However, no fuel was found in the fuel strainer or carburetor. It could not be determined how much fuel remained in the fuel system at the time of the ditching.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Ditching during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,720.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 11, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 706 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYBC Chub Cay at 4:05 pm
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft; scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KFLL, 58 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
14 documents, released by the NTSB on June 28, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.