Cessna 340A accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, January 3, 2023
On January 3, 2023 at about 4:22 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 340A, registered N824BC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A fuel system malfunction for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in fuel starvation to both engines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2023 · about 4:22 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A, built 1977 · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N824BC · registry record · serial 340A0306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he began the accident flight with 160 gallons of fuel on board. The airplane was equipped with two main wingtip fuel tanks, two in-wing auxiliary fuel tanks, and one engine nacelle locker fuel tank. His normal procedure was to operate for 50 minutes out of the main tanks, then use most of the fuel in the auxiliary tanks, then transfer fuel out of the locker tank and use all of that fuel. While approaching the destination airport, he attempted to transfer fuel from the locker tank; however, he later noticed that fuel was not transferring from that tank. Later, the right engine lost all power, followed by the left. He subsequently ditched the airplane in the ocean about 17 miles from of the destination airport. The airplane landed on the water, and the pilot and his passengers donned life vests and egressed before the airplane sank. The occupants were rescued about 4 hours later. The airplane was not recovered from the ocean and was presumed substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the fuel system could not be performed and the reason for the pilot’s inability to transfer fuel from the engine nacelle locker tank could not be determined.
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
- Ditching during emergency descent
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during enroute (descent) defining event
- Fuel starvation during enroute (descent)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 288 hours in all; 38 in the last 90 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 18, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,795 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 5,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520 Seri (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520 Seri (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aonvo Investment LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TKPK St. Kitts AO at 1:10 pm
- Destination: PLS Providenciales AO
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Observation at 5:00 pm from MBGT, 37 miles away
Weather report (METAR): MBGT 031700Z 08008KT 9999 FEW015TCU SCT040 27/19 Q1021
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 15, 2023. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Written Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Police Report - Royal Turks and Caicos Police | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Form 8020-6 Report of Aircraft Accident (W/ ATC Summary) | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Memorandum for Record - FAA Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
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.