No fatalities

1978-09-12: Beechcraft G18S (N948Q) — William Catalina — Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau, BahamasFlight

On September 12, 1978, a Beechcraft G18S (registration N948Q) operated by William Catalina was involved in an aviation accident near Nassau, Bahamas in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781226173Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine airplane en route from Barranquilla to Fort Lauderdale ditched off the Bahamas coast following an engine failure at night. Both occupants were rescued; the aircraft sank and was not recovered.

Incident

A twin-engine airplane, operating a flight from Barranquilla to Fort Lauderdale with an intermediate stop on Great Inagua Island, experienced an engine failure while cruising off the coast of the Bahamas at night. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to divert to the nearest airport. Ultimately, the aircraft was forced to ditch in the water a few miles offshore.

Rescue

Both occupants were rescued from the ditched aircraft. The airplane subsequently sank and was not recovered.

Investigation

The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported: the aircraft came to rest in water, it performed a forced landing off airport on water, and it was ditched in international waters and not recovered.