Piper PA-46-310P accident near High Island 334, May 7, 1994
On May 7, 1994 at about 11:06 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered N3648E, was destroyed in an accident near High Island 334. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH THE CAUSE UNDETERMINED. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1994 · about 11:06 pm local time
- Place
- High Island 334
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N3648E · no longer on the register · serial 46-8408067
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS EN ROUTE AT 14,000 FEET MSL WHEN THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE DROPPED FROM 30 TO 18 INCHES. ELEVEN MINUTES LATER THE OIL LIGHT CAME 'ON'. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED UNDER PARTIAL POWER AT AN AIRSPEED OF 90 KNOTS, WHILE DESCENDING AT 100 TO 300 FEET PER MINUTE (FPM). BY 9,500 FEET MSL THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO NEAR A SHIP. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED AFLOAT FOR 5 TO 7 MINUTES. DURING THIS TIME, THE EMERGENCY EXIT WAS OPENED, ALL OCCUPANTS DONNED A LIFE VEST, EXITED, AND BOARDED THE LIFE RAFT, WHICH THE PILOT HAD DEPLOYED. ALL WERE RESCUED BY PERSONNEL FROM THE SHIP. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED; THEREFORE, THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS WAS NOT 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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-BE1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMCZ Cozumel,Of
- Destination: HOU Houston TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.