What happened
On February 2, 2000, a Beech D18S, registration N122V, was conducting an international cargo flight under visual flight rules when it experienced a critical engine malfunction. The aircraft, operated by Florida Air Cargo, Inc., departed from Opa Locka Airport at approximately 1305. During the flight, the pilot managed fuel by switching between main and auxiliary tanks. Approximately 45 miles east of Bimini, while climbing through 2,300 feet, the left engine's manifold pressure and propeller RPM decreased significantly.
Following the power loss, the pilot declared a mayday and attempted to redirect the aircraft toward Bimini. Despite attempts to reposition the fuel selector, the left engine failed to restart. The pilot subsequently feathered the left propeller and shut down the engine. However, the remaining right engine could not provide sufficient power to maintain altitude. The aircraft was ditched in the Atlantic Ocean in a slight left wing-low attitude, an impact that caused the left engine to separate from the airframe. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Findings
Both occupants, the pilot and one passenger, survived the ditching. After spending 47 minutes in the water, the pair were located by a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft and subsequently rescued by a private vessel. The left engine failure was the primary factor that prevented the aircraft from maintaining flight, leading to the emergency landing.