Piper PA-23-250 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, February 7, 1993
On February 7, 1993 at about 9:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N5044Y, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS OWN ABILITIES AND THE SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM IN-FLIGHT FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 1993 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5044Y · no longer on the register · serial 272052
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REQUESTED AND WAS ISSUED A FERRY PERMIT FROM THE FAA FOR THE FLIGHT FROM SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, TO FORT LAUDERDALE. HE CONVEYED HIS CONFIDENCE TO A FRIEND THAT HE COULD ACCOMPLISH THE FLIGHT WITHOUT A REFUELING STOP. ABOUT 6 HOURS 38 MINUTES LATER HE REPORTED BOTH ENGINES HAD FAILED AND HE WAS DITCHING. THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE INJURY AND DAMAGE CLASSIFICATIONS ARE PRESUMED.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TSJU San Juan PR at 3:30 pm
- Destination: KHWO Hollywood FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:38 pm from FLL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N5044Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.