Occurrence
On July 31, 2025, at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registration N68BT, was involved in an occurrence while en route to Witham Field Airport (KSUA) in Stuart, Florida, USA. The flight had departed from Leonard Thompson International Airport (MYAM) in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas, at about 10:15 a.m. on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. According to the pilot, the flight was uneventful for the first ten minutes. At an altitude of about 6,500 feet, the pilot observed a loss of engine power. After attempting to restore power using the manufacturer's prescribed procedures, the pilot was unsuccessful and decided to ditch the aircraft in a marshland area approximately 19 nautical miles from MYAM.
The sole occupant, the pilot, was not injured. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller (two blades bent), nose gear, and underside of the fuselage. The engine support frame was also bent.
Post-accident inspection of the fuel tanks revealed that the left outboard tank was full and the right inboard tank was full. The right outboard tank and left inboard tank were visually empty. The fuel selector was observed to be positioned to the right inboard tank.
Analysis
The pilot reported a routine fuel management practice. When departing Florida for the Bahamas, the fuel selector was initially placed to the left inboard tank and then switched to the right outboard tank as necessary. For the return trip from the Bahamas to Florida, the selector was initially placed to the right inboard tank and then to the left outboard tank.
Although this was routine, the investigation noted that from a human factors perspective, there is potential for error during such a procedure. The fuel selector being found on the right inboard tank is consistent with the pilot's stated practice, but no determination could be made as to when the selection occurred.
No evidence of fuel component failure or malfunction was found. Given that fuel was present in two of the four tanks, it appears that the occurrence may have involved fuel mismanagement.
A review of the aircraft's power plant, propeller, and airframe logbooks indicated that the owner operated and complied with all applicable U.S. regulatory requirements and manufacturer's maintenance procedures.
No safety recommendations were issued as a result of this investigation.