Overview
About one hour into a flight, after 15 minutes at the cruising altitude of 9,000 feet, the left engine ceased operation. The flight crew responded by feathering the left propeller and directing the aircraft toward the closest airport, which was 80 miles away. However, the aircraft could not sustain its altitude and began descending at a rate of 500 feet per minute. Approximately 20 minutes after the engine failure, the aircraft was ditched into the ocean, about 50 miles from the intended diversion airport.
Rescue and Recovery
The flight crew and passengers were rescued the following morning. The aircraft itself was not recovered from the ocean.
Weight and Maintenance History
The second pilot, who also owned the aircraft, stated that at the time of departure, the aircraft was approximately 90 pounds over its maximum allowable weight. Additionally, the previous owner reported that both engines had exceeded the recommended overhaul time by about 450 flight hours.
Probable Cause
The official findings attributed the accident to a failure of the aircraft to maintain altitude for undetermined reasons following the loss of power in one engine.