Accident Details
During a pre-flight examination conducted the evening prior to the flight, the pilot observed the fuel gauges reading approximately three-quarters full. A visual inspection of the tanks indicated they were not full, but the pilot believed the quantity was sufficient for the intended flight.
While cruising at 17,000 feet mean sea level and approximately 60 miles from the destination, both the left and right engines experienced fuel exhaustion. The pilot declared an emergency and subsequently ditched the airplane in the Atlantic Ocean, about ten miles off the coast of Isle De La Tortue, Haiti.
Rescue
The pilot received minor injuries and was rescued by the United States Coast Guard at 1730 the same day.
Fuel Management
Based on data from the Raytheon Aircraft Company, with three-quarters-full fuel tanks, the total available flight time for this flight was approximately 4.00 hours. The actual flight time was 3.25 hours.
Probable Cause
According to the official findings, the probable cause was inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion due to an inadequate supply of fuel. A contributing factor was the terrain, specifically water.