Cessna 414A accident near Pompano Beach, Florida, May 14, 2006
On May 14, 2006 at about 8:47 pm local time, a Cessna 414A, registered N79NS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pompano Beach, Florida (Fort Lauderdale Executive airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight/planning due to his failure to assure an adequate supply of fuel was available for the flight, resulting in the loss of engine power in both engines due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2006 · about 8:47 pm local time
- Place
- Pompano Beach, Florida · Fort Lauderdale Executive
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414A · all 414As on the register
- Registration
- N79NS · no longer on the register · serial 414A0308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-in-command (PIC) stated that the flight departed with 45 gallons of fuel, proceeded toward the destination airport, and when the flight was approximately 3 miles north of the destination airport, the right engine began to surge. At that time, the left and right fuel gauges and noted they indicated "...just below 20 gallons..." and "...10-15 gallons" respectively. He began troubleshooting the problem with the right engine, requested "...priority to land" with the tower, and started turning toward the field. The controller asked him if he was declaring an emergency, he advised he was not. The controller advised him not to turn base because he would be on top of another airplane. He turned back onto the downwind leg and at that time, the left engine began experiencing problems. He then declared an emergency and turned towards the airport but recognized he was unable to reach the airport. He landed on a road. The PIC further stated that fire rescue set up sand barriers, with the largest containing fuel from the airplane. The barrier that contained the spilled fuel was approximately 5 feet long by 3-4 feet wide, and the depth of fuel inside the barrier was approximately 4-5 inches deep. Fire rescue personnel reported estimating 5-10 gallons of fuel leakage. Postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed no visible fuel in the left wing fuel tank, and no fuel when the left wing sump drain was opened. Following recovery of the airplane, fuel lines in each engine compartment were examined and no fuel was found at the left engine fuel manifold valve, while "...trace amounts of fuel..." were found at the right engine fuel manifold valve. No fuel was detected at "...either left or right fuel inlet lines at engine driven fuel pumps" nor at the outlet side of the left engine driven fuel pump. Only a "...small amount..." of fuel was found in the outlet side of the right engine driven fuel pump. Only "...small amounts of fuel..." were found in the fuel inlet housing at each servo fuel injector (fuel servo). The total unusable fuel quantity is 9.4 gallons.
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: commercial pilot, foreign licence, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,050 hours in all; 327 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 220 hours in all
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,115 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 1, 2006; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,750 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUA Stuart FL at 8:17 pm
- Destination: KFXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KFXE, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.