What happened
On April 30, 2007, a private PIPER PA-46 350P, registration EC-IQX, departed from Cuatro Vientos Airport (LECU) bound for Palma de Mallorca. The flight was carrying a pilot and three passengers. During the descent to 13,000 feet, the pilot attempted to increase power but received no response from the engine. The pilot observed that both engine torque and Interstage Turbine Temperature (ITT) had dropped to zero, indicating the turbine had stopped.
Despite several attempts to troubleshoot the issue by switching fuel tanks, using the emergency pump, and performing an in-flight restart procedure similar to a ground start, the engine failed to restart. The pilot declared an emergency at 17:17:01, citing a loss of fuel supply, and subsequently diverted the aircraft toward Ibiza. After losing communication with air traffic control, the pilot performed a controlled ditching approximately 15 NM north of Ibiza at 17:33:00. The aircraft struck the water with its tail, causing significant impact. All four occupants survived the impact, though the aircraft eventually sank after approximately 40 minutes.