What happened
During a flight over the Atlantic Ocean, an aircraft experienced a total loss of power in both engines. The incident occurred at an altitude of 17,000 feet MSL, roughly 60 miles from the intended destination. Following the loss of engine power, the pilot declared an emergency and performed a ditching maneuver in the ocean, approximately ten miles from the coast of Isle De La Tortue, Haiti.
The pilot was rescued by the United States Coast Guard at 1730 on the day of the accident. While the pilot sustained minor injuries, no other fatalities were reported.
Findings
Investigations into the event suggest that the incident was caused by fuel exhaustion. Prior to the flight, a pre-flight inspection conducted the previous evening showed fuel gauges indicating approximately three-quarters full. Although a subsequent visual check by the pilot indicated the tanks were not completely full, the pilot determined the remaining fuel was sufficient for the planned mission.
Records from the Raytheon Aircraft Company indicate that with tanks at the level observed during the pre-flight check, the total endurance for the aircraft was roughly 4.00 hours. The actual duration of the flight was 3.25 hours, yet the engines failed before reaching the destination.