Cessna 172N accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, July 19, 1993
On July 19, 1993, a Cessna 172N, registered N99BW, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INACCURATE FUEL COMSUMPTION CALCULATIONS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1993
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N99BW · no longer on the register · serial 17273129
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES INDICATING RESPECTIVELY, 8-10, AND 4+ GALLONS. ABOUT 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. AT THAT TIME THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES INDICATED RESPECTIVELY 8 GALLONS AND NEARLY EMPTY. WHILE DESCENDING, ENGINE POWER WAS RESTORED. A CLIMB WAS INITIATED BUT ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. A DESCENT WAS INITIATED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DITCHED ABOUT 7 NAUTICAL MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,430 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,315 as pilot in command; 173 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,930 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 1993; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYBS Bimini OF
- Destination: FLL Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:47 pm from FLL, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
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.