Piper PA-34-200 accident near Gulf Of Mexico, February 17, 1994
On February 17, 1994 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registered N1247T, was destroyed in an accident near Gulf Of Mexico. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION (FAILURE TO REMAIN AWAKE) RESULTING IN EXTENDED FLIGHT OVER WATER FOLLOWED BY FUEL EXHAUSTION, TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND DITCHING BEFORE RETURNING TO LAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 1994 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200 · all PA-34-200s on the register
- Registration
- N1247T · no longer on the register · serial 34-7250271
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FELL ASLEEP WHILE ENROUTE FROM SPRINGFIELD, KY TO CROSSVILLE, TN WHEN HE AWOKE 5 HOURS LATER HE FOUND THAT HE WAS OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO, 210 MILES SOUTH OF PANAMA CITY, FL, AND HAD ONLY 20 MINUTES OF FUEL REMAING. HE DECLARED MAYDAY ON 121.5 AND WAS ASSISTED BY COAST GUARD AND AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT. THEY DIRECTED HIM TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, ST. PETERSBURG, FL WHILE ENROUTE TO THE AIRPORT THE ENGINES QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DITCHED, 70 MILES WEST OF ST. PETERSBURG. HE WAS RESCUED BY A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 6,800 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 1993; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6I2 Springfield KY at 11:15 am
- Destination: CSV Crossville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:55 pm
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.
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.