On July 18, 1980, a Beechcraft D18 (registration N1824D) operated by Pacific Missionary Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Colonia, Federated States of Micronesia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure in normal cruise and subsequent ditching due to fuel exhaustion after the pilot became lost/disoriented. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A flight from Woleai Atoll to Yap Island experienced fuel exhaustion after the pilot became lost in marginal weather with adverse winds. Both engines failed, leading to an emergency landing at sea. All seven occupants were rescued.
Incident
A flight en route from Woleai Atoll to Yap Island encountered difficulties when the pilot became lost amid marginal weather conditions. Adverse winds aloft, with gusts reaching 30 knots, worsened the situation. Both engines subsequently failed because the fuel supply was exhausted. The pilot executed an emergency landing on the water approximately 80 kilometers east of Yap Island. All seven occupants were quickly rescued, but the aircraft sank and was lost.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the engine failure occurred during normal cruise and led to a ditching. The root cause was fuel exhaustion after the pilot became lost and disoriented. Contributing factors included adverse winds aloft, wind gusts up to 30 knots, complete failure of both engines, weather conditions slightly worse than forecast, and the forced landing off an airport on water.
Probable cause
Engine failure in normal cruise and subsequent ditching due to fuel exhaustion after the pilot became lost/disoriented. The following contributing factors were reported: - Adverse winds aloft, - Wind gusting up to 30 knots, - Complete failure of both engines, - Weather slightly worse than forecast, - Forced landing off airport on water.